US nuclear submarine arrives in South Korea amid concerns over North Korean missile launch

A US nuclear-powered attack submarine arrived in South Korea in February.

A US nuclear-powered submarine has arrived in South Korea, the South Korean Defense Ministry said, amid concerns that North Korea could launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) this month.

According to Yonhap, the USS Missouri, a Virginia-class attack submarine, arrived at Busan port, about 320 km from the capital Seoul, on the morning of December 17.

"With the deployment of the USS Missouri, we plan to strengthen naval exchanges and cooperation with the US and strengthen our defense posture," according to the South Korean Navy.

The submarine's deployment comes just three weeks after the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Santa Fe entered Jeju Naval Base on the southern resort island of South Korea.

Earlier, a South Korean national security official raised the possibility that North Korea could launch an ICBM this month. The prediction was made while the official was in Washington for the Nuclear Consultative Group, a US-South Korea security meeting to discuss nuclear planning and strategy.

On July 12, North Korea test-launched the Hwasong-18 ICBM with solid fuel.

In another development, on December 17, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un commemorated the 12th death anniversary of his predecessor and father - the late leader Kim Jong-il (1941-2011).

A day earlier, Kim Jong-un visited the Kumsusan Memorial Palace, also known as the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where Kim Jong-il's body is kept.

Senior officials accompanying Mr. Kim Jong-un included Prime Minister Kim Tok-hun and Jo Yong-won, secretary in charge of the organization of the Workers' Party of Korea. Photos released by North Korean state media also showed the presence of Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui and Ms. Kim Yo-jong, the leader's sister.

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