Seoul, 18 July, 2023 (GNP): In a significant development, the United States has deployed a nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) to South Korea, marking the first visit of its kind since the 1980s. The deployment comes as both nations engage in talks to coordinate their responses in the event of a nuclear war with North Korea.
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White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell confirmed the anticipated visit, which was announced during a joint declaration between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and US President Joe Biden in April. Campbell, attending the first Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) discussion in Seoul, disclosed the arrival of an American nuclear submarine at the port of Busan.
The periodic visits by US SSBNs to South Korea were part of the agreements reached between the two countries’ presidents in April to address North Korea’s growing nuclear threat. These agreements included the establishment of a bilateral NCG and the expansion of military exercises.
The USS Kentucky, an Ohio-class submarine, arrived at the South Korean port of Busan on Tuesday afternoon, as confirmed by South Korea’s defense ministry. Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup hailed the submarine’s visit as a demonstration of the US’s commitment to implementing its “extended deterrence” pledge.
During the Cold War in the late 1970s, US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines frequently visited South Korea, indicating a time when the US had numerous nuclear warheads stationed on the Korean Peninsula. However, in 1991, the US withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the region.
The recent developments surrounding North Korea’s nuclear ambitions have heightened concerns. The nation has threatened to use nuclear weapons in conflicts with its rivals and has conducted approximately 100 missile tests since last year.
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In line with these developments, South Korean and US officials held the inaugural meeting of the NCG in Seoul on Tuesday. The meeting focused on strengthening deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear threats and discussed bilateral approaches to nuclear and strategic planning.
Both sides emphasized the integral role of the NCG in advancing their shared objectives and responding to North Korean aggression. The consultative body will facilitate the sharing of information on nuclear and strategic weapons operation plans and joint operations. The US will retain operational control of its nuclear weapons, as clarified by US officials.
These recent agreements and steps, including the establishment of the NCG, are aimed at assuaging South Korean concerns about North Korean provocations while preventing Seoul from pursuing its own nuclear program.