The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier arrived at a major naval base in South Korea on Sunday. This visit marks a significant show of strength and reaffirms the US commitment to countering North Korean threats.
The visit highlights Washington’s ongoing commitment to extended deterrence, as confirmed by South Korea’s navy.
The nuclear-powered carrier, part of Carrier Strike Group 1, docked in Busan. The city is 320 kilometres (199 miles) from Seoul, according to Yonhap News.
Along with the USS Carl Vinson were the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and the Aegis-equipped destroyer USS Sterett.
South Korea’s navy described the visit as a step to reinforce the US commitment to extended deterrence. It also aims to strengthen combined defence against North Korea’s persistent threats.
Rear Admiral Lee Nam-gyu, Director of the Maritime Operations Centre at the Republic of Korea Fleet, said, “Our military will respond firmly to any North Korean threat. The South Korea-US alliance will work together to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.”
The USS Carl Vinson last visited South Korea in November 2023. That visit came just hours before North Korea successfully launched its first military spy satellite into orbit, after two failed attempts.
