The United States has deployed a nuclear submarine capable of carrying approximately 150 Tomahawk missiles in South Korea. This deployment comes in response to the recent missile tests conducted by the North Korean regime under Kim Jong-un, who protested against joint military exercises between the US and South Korea.
Increase in US Strategic Assets
The arrival of the USS Michigan, the first submarine of its kind to be deployed in South Korea in six years, is part of a bilateral agreement between the US and South Korea. This agreement aims to increase the regular visibility of US strategic assets in the Korean Peninsula, in response to the developments in Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
Enhancing Special Operations Capabilities
With the deployment of the USS Michigan, both the US and South Korean navies will conduct exercises to enhance their special operations capabilities and their joint ability to address the growing nuclear threats posed by North Korea. The South Korean Defense Ministry stated that these exercises will take place alongside the submarine’s stay in the port city of Busan.
Features of the USS Michigan
The USS Michigan is one of the largest submarines in the world. It is equipped with Ohio-class guided missiles and has the capacity to hold up to 150 Tomahawk missiles, which can reach a distance of approximately 2,500 kilometers. Additionally, it has the capability to launch special forces missions.
(Image source: Reuters)
Response to Provocative Missile Tests
The exercises between the US and South Korea have been expanded in response to the provocative missile tests conducted by North Korea. While North Korea claims these tests are necessary to counter the escalating exercises, experts believe that their ultimate goal is to modernize their arsenal and increase their influence.
Agreements between US and South Korea
Following a meeting between President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol, both leaders agreed to enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets in the Korean Peninsula. President Biden also made it clear that any North Korean nuclear strike against the US or its allies would result in severe consequences.
The leaders also announced other steps to strengthen joint deterrence capabilities, including regular docking of a US submarine with nuclear ballistic missiles in South Korea, reinforcement of joint training exercises, and the establishment of a new nuclear advisory group.
North Korea’s Response
Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, criticized the agreements made during the Biden-Yoon summit. She claimed that these agreements revealed the hostile and aggressive intentions of the US and South Korea towards Pyongyang. In response, she threatened to further strengthen North Korea’s nuclear forces.
Recent Missile Launches
On Thursday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from its eastern coast. These launches came shortly after the completion of joint exercises between North Korea’s neighbor and the US. It is worth noting that North Korea recently attempted to launch a spy satellite, which ended in failure.
Recovery of North Korean Rocket Parts
The South Korean Defense Ministry announced that its military teams have recovered what they believe to be part of the crashed North Korean rocket. Photos of a white metallic cylinder, suspected to be the rocket’s fuel tank, were released by the ministry.
