[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Aftermath of North Korea's Satellite Launch... Will Joint Military Exercises Be Strengthened?

Possibility of Joint Exercises Following North Korea's Surprise Launch of Military Reconnaissance Satellite

North Korea's surprise launch of a military reconnaissance satellite is expected to significantly increase the frequency of South Korea-US joint exercises. The intention is to raise the deployment frequency of US strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula and to militarily pressure North Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 15th, South Korea and the US deployed the US Air Force's B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber over the Korean Peninsula to conduct joint air exercises, and this week, they have also announced plans to conduct a joint exercise involving a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also stated at a joint press conference following the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held in Seoul on the 13th, "The Washington Declaration includes a commitment to increase the frequency of strategic asset deployments to the Korean Peninsula," adding, "To fulfill that promise, a strategic nuclear submarine (SSBN) recently called at Busan, the B-52H bomber landed on the Korean Peninsula, and another aircraft carrier is expected to arrive soon."

In fact, the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) arrived in Busan on the 21st. This marks just over a month since the last US carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), docked on the 12th of last month.

Possibility of Exercises to Demonstrate Deterrence Against North Korea Coinciding with USS Carl Vinson's Arrival

Known as a "floating sea base," the USS Carl Vinson is a US Navy Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier measuring 333 meters in length and 76.4 meters in width. It is reported to carry Super Hornet fighters (F/A-18), Hawkeye early warning aircraft (E-2C), and anti-submarine aircraft (S-3A).

The arrival of the USS Carl Vinson was a pre-arranged matter between South Korea and the US, unrelated to North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite launch. However, with North Korea launching the satellite during the carrier's stay, it is highly likely that joint measures by the South Korean and US navies will be implemented.

US strategic bombers may once again fly over the Korean Peninsula. This signifies that South Korea and the US are raising the level of deterrence against North Korea as part of expanding and strengthening their alliance. The B-52H strategic bomber, which landed in South Korea for the first time in October, participated in the first-ever South Korea-US-Japan flight exercise. On the 15th, it again entered the airspace over the Korean Peninsula to conduct joint air exercises with the South Korean Air Force.

A military official stated, "We are discussing various joint exercises with the US side in response to North Korea's military reconnaissance satellite launch," adding, "We will reach a conclusion that can raise the level of deterrence against North Korea."

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