A US nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Michigan, docked at the South Korean port city of Busan on Friday, according to the South Korean navy. The submarine’s arrival comes a day after North Korea fired two short-range missiles into the sea, in violation of UN resolutions.
What is the USS Michigan?
The USS Michigan is an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine that can carry up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 66 special forces personnel. It is one of the largest and most advanced submarines in the world, with a length of 170 meters and a displacement of 18,750 tons. It is powered by a nuclear reactor that can operate for up to 33 years without refueling.
The USS Michigan is part of the US Pacific Fleet and is based in Bangor, Washington. It was commissioned in 1982 as a ballistic missile submarine, but was converted to a guided-missile submarine in 2007. It has participated in several missions and exercises in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as the Persian Gulf.
Why did it visit South Korea?
The USS Michigan’s visit to South Korea is part of a bilateral agreement between the US and South Korea to enhance the “regular visibility” of US strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula, in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. The agreement was reached during the summit between US President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Washington in April.
The US and South Korea also agreed to hold joint naval drills to improve their interoperability and readiness. The USS Michigan will conduct training with the South Korean navy to strengthen their special operations capabilities and joint ability to counter North Korean provocations. The submarine will also demonstrate the US commitment to the security and stability of the region.
The USS Michigan is the first US nuclear-powered submarine to visit South Korea since 2017, when the USS Michigan and the USS Tucson made port calls amid heightened tensions with North Korea. The US and South Korea also plan to host a US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) for the first time since the 1980s, as part of their deterrence strategy.
How did North Korea react?
North Korea has not yet commented on the USS Michigan’s arrival, but it has expressed its displeasure with the US-South Korea military cooperation. On Thursday, North Korea launched two short-range missiles from its east coast, which flew about 280 kilometers and landed in the sea. It was the first missile test by North Korea since March, when it fired two cruise missiles.
North Korea said the missile launch was a “regular and self-defensive” exercise, and accused the US and South Korea of provoking it with their joint drills and hostile policies. North Korea also claimed that it has developed a new “strategic weapon” that can evade missile defense systems and strike anywhere in the world.
The US and South Korea condemned the missile launch as a violation of UN Security Council resolutions that ban North Korea from testing ballistic missiles. They urged North Korea to refrain from further provocations and return to dialogue on denuclearization. They also reaffirmed their alliance and their readiness to defend themselves and their allies.
