[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] US Aircraft Carrier Arrival... Will North Korea Continue Provocations?

US Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Arrives at Busan Port
North Korea Likely to Continue Provocations Citing Ssangryong Drills and Other Reasons

The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) will enter the Busan operational base on the morning of the 28th. The joint training involving the Nimitz and its arrival in Korea is being interpreted as a warning to North Korea, which continues provocations, while commemorating the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and North Korea's backlash is expected to intensify.

According to the Navy, the Nimitz is scheduled to complete docking procedures and enter the port around 10 a.m. that day. The U.S. 11th Carrier Strike Group, including the Nimitz, conducted joint naval exercises with the Korean Navy in international waters south of Jeju the previous day.

The U.S. 11th Carrier Strike Group consists of the Nimitz, the Ticonderoga-class Aegis cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG-52), and the Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyers USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) and USS Decatur (DDG-73). The Korean Navy participated with the Aegis destroyer ROKS Sejong the Great (DDG-991), the Korean destroyer ROKS Choi Young (DDH-981), and the logistics support ship ROKS Hwacheon (AOE-29).

Meanwhile, following the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise "Freedom Shield" (FS) held from the 13th to the 23rd, and the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint amphibious landing exercise "Ssangryong Exercise" scheduled from the 20th to next month’s 3rd, North Korea is expected to continue its provocations.

These provocations include submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) on the 12th, ground-to-ground tactical short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) on the 14th, the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Hwasong-17 on the 16th, SRBMs detonated at 800 meters altitude on the 19th, strategic cruise missiles on the 22nd, and nuclear unmanned underwater vehicle tests from the 21st to the 23rd. Even on the 27th, when news of the Nimitz’s training and arrival was reported, North Korea fired two SRBMs into the East Sea in protest.

Rear Admiral Christopher Sweeney, commander of the 11th Carrier Strike Group, said, "The carrier strike group’s visit to Korea is a prime example of the ongoing cooperation between the United States and South Korea and demonstrates our strong support for Korea."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.