South Korea receives US nuclear-powered submarine at Busan port

A nuclear-powered submarine by the United States arrived in Busan, the port city of South Korea, on Sunday, according to the Yonhap news agency citing the South Korean navy.

The USS Missouri, also known as SSN-780, arrived following the second Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting between the US and South Korea in Washington on Friday.

In the meeting, talks about nuclear deterrence were exchanged as part of a commitment by the two countries to share more insight into planning in the event of conflict with North Korea.

“Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies is unacceptable and will result in the end of the Kim regime,” a joint US-South Korean statement from the meeting said.

Earlier this week, a top South Korean official hinted that North Korea would conduct an intercontinental ballistic missile test this month, Reuters reported.

Kim Tae-hyo, South Korea’s deputy national security adviser revealed that North Korea may test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile this month, which was considered a nuclear threat regardless of its range because it can carry a nuclear warhead.

Pyongyang has developed and tested a range of ballistic missiles that can reach targets in South Korea, Japan and the US mainland.

Previously, US nuclear submarine visits were uncommon.

However, as a result of agreements reached between Seoul and Washington, the number of US military assets arriving to help deter North Korea has increased.

In November, another nuclear-powered US submarine, the USS Santa Fe, made a port visit to a port on the South Korean island of Jeju.

Furthermore, the USS Carl Vinson, a US aircraft carrier, also arrived at a Busan port last month to increase deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

Meanwhile, the third NCG will be convened in Korea next summer.