Nuclear-powered sub arrives in South Korea amid NK provocations

• Published date: 26 February 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

South Korea and the United States have stepped up deterrence efforts against North Korea's mounting threats, recently stoked by its launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with their latest warning coming over the weekend ? the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in Busan.

In addition, the allies conducted a tabletop exercise last week to respond to possible North Korean nuclear attacks. A U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is also expected to participate in the allies' springtime combined exercise, scheduled to begin in the middle of next month.

According to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Saturday, the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Springfield arrived in Busan for a scheduled port visit earlier that day.

"The USS Springfield is one of five Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarines forward-deployed to Guam and routinely operates in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, conducting maritime security operations and supporting national security interests," it said on its Facebook.

The rare disclosure of the submarine's deployment to the Korean Peninsula seems intended to send a strong warning to North Korea following repeated missile provocations. The Kim Jong-un regime launched a Hwasong-15 ICBM, Feb. 18, believed to be capable of hitting targets anywhere on the U.S. mainland.

"The arrival of the U.S. nuclear-powered submarine would serve as Washington's extended deterrence commitments to Seoul," said Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum.

"A nuclear-powered submarine is a weapon system that can covertly approach and subdue any North Korean submarine, so I think it can be another level of warning to North Korea," Shin added.

On Thursday (local time), South Korea and the United States conducted their eighth Deterrence Strategy Committee Table-Top Exercise, also known as DSC TTX, at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

"Both sides affirmed that the alliance stands ready to respond to the DPRK's [North Korea's] nuclear threats," the South Korean and U.S. delegations said in a statement after the drill. "The U.S. side highlighted that its 2022 Nuclear Posture Review states that any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of that regime."

During that exercise, the allies discussed ways to maintain peace on the Peninsula, including "potential options" in the case of North Korea's nuclear weapons use.

"The United States will...