SEOUL: The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan is scheduled to arrive at the South Korean port of Busan on Thursday, marking a significant development as Seoul raises concerns about an escalating threat from North Korea. Joint maritime exercises between South Korea, the United States, and Japan are concurrently underway in response to the mounting tensions.
The carrier’s presence in Busan, where it is anticipated to remain until October 16, is intended to bolster the defense posture of both South Korea and the United States in the event of any provocative actions by North Korea, according to South Korea’s defense ministry.
This visit by the Ronald Reagan follows its last appearance in South Korea in 2022, marking its return after approximately four years. During that visit, the carrier joined other military vessels, presenting a show of strength aimed at conveying a clear message to North Korea.
Meanwhile, North Korean state media KCNA, on Tuesday, criticized the deployment of US strategic assets, which includes submarines and bombers, in the Asia-Pacific region. In response, North Korea defended its plans for a spy satellite program, characterizing it as “indispensable.” North Korea has experienced two failed attempts to place a spy satellite in orbit, one in May and another in August, and has expressed its determination to make another attempt as early as October.
South Korea’s defence minister, Shin Won-sik, voiced concerns on Tuesday, indicating that South Korea now faces a more severe threat from North Korea, as reported by the news agency Yonhap.
The visit of the Ronald Reagan aligns with the United States’ commitment to increase the “regular visibility” of its strategic military assets, as outlined in the Washington Declaration, a joint statement issued during a summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol and US leader Joe Biden in April.
To address the escalating tensions and evolving security landscape, the South Korean and US navies, along with Japan’s defence force, conducted joint maritime exercises in waters near South Korea’s Jeju Island on Monday and Tuesday. These drills, the first of their kind since 2016, are aimed at deterring and responding to North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats, according to a statement from the South Korean navy.
In addition, a meeting was convened on the carrier on Sunday, bringing together South Korea’s Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Kim Myung-soo and his US and Japanese counterparts. The discussions centered on formulating countermeasures to address Pyongyang’s “underwater threats,” as well as its nuclear and missile programs.”
