South Korea is expected to join a small circle of countries that operate nuclear-powered submarines after receiving approval from US President Donald Trump.

The South, which is technically still at war with nuclear-armed North Korea, said it expects to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine by the mid-to-late 2030s, using its own technology.

AFP takes a look at what we know:

What is the deal?

Trump said last week he had approved ally South Korea's plan to build a nuclear-powered submarine after meeting counterpart Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of an APEC summit.

Lee's office has said Seoul needed US approval because of the requirement for nuclear fuel, which is restricted for military use.

The exact scale and cost of the submarine project are unknown but South Korea has said it

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