In a display of Washington's commitment to countering North Korea's increasing threats, a US Navy nuclear-powered submarine arrived in the port city of Busan, South Korea. The submarine's arrival aligns with the Washington Declaration, signed by US and South Korean leaders, which emphasizes the extension of deterrence to South Korea, including the employment of nuclear capabilities. The move aims to enhance the regular visibility of US strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula.
Tensions between the two Korea have reached a critical point, with diplomatic efforts stalled and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un asserting his nation's status as an "irreversible" nuclear state while advocating for further weapons development, including tactical nuclear weapons.
In response to North Korea's provocations, both Seoul and Washington have issued stern warnings, stating that any use of nuclear weapons by Pyongyang would be met with a nuclear response and the potential downfall of the current North Korean government.
The USS Michigan, an Ohio-class nuclear-powered guided missile submarine, made its first port call in Busan in six years. The 18,000-ton submarine, measuring approximately 170 meters (560 feet) in length, can be armed with up to 150 Tomahawk missiles, boasting a range of 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles).
South Korea's Fleet Commander Kim Myung-soo emphasized that the submarine's visit aligns with the objectives of the Washington Declaration, aiming to substantively implement its provisions. Additionally, the United States and South Korea plan to enhance their special warfare capabilities and interoperability through joint special warfare drills, further bolstering their preparedness against North Korea's escalating threats.
The North Korean regime has been conducting multiple sanctions-defying missile launches, including the test-firing of powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles. In the previous month, Pyongyang attempted to place a military spy satellite into orbit. In what appears to be a response to ongoing US-South Korea joint military drills, North Korea fired two ballistic missiles.
North Korea perceives such military exercises as rehearsals for invasion and has denounced them as "frantic" drills that simulate an all-out war against Pyongyang. As tensions remain high, the situation on the Korean Peninsula calls for continued vigilance and diplomatic efforts to alleviate the mounting risks.