US aircraft carrier docks in South Korea, vows to 'deter' North Korea

(CLO) The South Korean Navy announced that the US aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson docked at the Busan naval base on Sunday, reaffirming Washington's commitment to expanding its deterrence against North Korea.

According to the South Korean Navy, the USS Carl Vinson is not traveling alone but is escorted by the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and the destroyer USS Sterett, both equipped with the modern Aegis system.

The US Navy sees the visit as part of its “sustainable” deterrence strategy, highlighting the readiness of the US-ROK alliance in the face of military moves from Pyongyang. The two countries are expected to hold joint training activities to improve coordination between the two navies.

The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson transits the Pacific Ocean in 2015. Photo: US Navy

Rear Admiral Lee Nam-gyu, director of the Republic of Korea Fleet's maritime operations center, stressed that the South Korean military will respond firmly to any provocations from North Korea. He also affirmed that the South Korea-US alliance is an important factor in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, General Xavier Brunson, commander of US Forces Korea (USFK), appreciated the role of joint military activities in enhancing combat readiness.

"The presence of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is a clear demonstration of our commitment to protecting our allies, strengthening our deterrence, and ensuring our defense posture is ready to fight at any time," he said.

The visit comes as North Korea conducted a strategic cruise missile test last month under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un.

The USS Carl Vinson also visited South Korea in November 2023, just hours before North Korea successfully launched its first military spy satellite into orbit.

In June 2024, the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier arrived in Busan to participate in the multi-domain Freedom Edge exercise between the US, South Korea and Japan, reflecting Washington's increasingly strong military presence in the East Asia region.

Ngoc Anh (according to Yonhap, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tau-san-bay-my-cap-cang-han-quoc-cam-ket-ran-de-trieu-tien-post336788.html