US Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Reagan Returns to the East Sea

Decision by South Korea and US Defense Ministers Following North Korea's Missile Provocation the Previous Day

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan (CVN-76, 103,000-ton class) is re-entering the East Sea international waters. The redeployment of the Reagan carrier strike group to the Korean Peninsula is highly unusual.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the 5th, the redeployment of the Ronald Reagan to the East Sea international waters is to strengthen the readiness posture of the ROK-U.S. alliance against North Korea's provocations and to demonstrate the firm resolve of the ROK-U.S. alliance to respond decisively to any provocations and threats from North Korea.

This move was decided through consultations between the ROK and U.S. defense ministers following North Korea's missile provocation the previous day, in accordance with the timely and coordinated deployment agreement of U.S. strategic assets by the ROK and U.S. leaders.

The Joint Chiefs emphasized, "The ROK-U.S. alliance is maintaining a solid readiness posture while closely cooperating to monitor and track related developments in preparation for any further provocations by North Korea."

The Reagan carrier strike group entered Busan operational base on the 25th of last month and conducted a four-day ROK-U.S. joint naval exercise starting on the 26th, followed by a trilateral ROK-U.S.-Japan joint anti-submarine warfare exercise in the East Sea international waters.

The 103,000-ton Reagan, commissioned in 2003, carries about 90 aircraft including F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters, E-2D Hawkeye early warning aircraft, and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft, with approximately 5,000 crew members onboard, earning it the nickname "floating military base."

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