US Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Conducts US-Japan Joint Exercises in the East Sea

by Yang Nakgyu

Published 13 Apr.2022 14:14(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (100,000 tons class) has released photos of joint exercises with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in the East Sea international waters. This serves as a warning in response to the possibility of North Korea's strategic provocations such as nuclear tests, coinciding with the 110th anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birthday on the 15th of this month and the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army on the 25th.

On the 13th, the U.S. 7th Fleet announced via Facebook and Twitter that the Lincoln (CVN-72), along with the carrier strike group forces including the missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) and the Aegis destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111), conducted joint exercises the previous day with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) guided missile destroyers Kongo (DDG-173) and Inazuma (DD-105). The U.S. carrier strike group is reported to remain in the East Sea international waters for about five days.

The entry of the U.S. carrier into the East Sea marks the first time in four years and five months since November 2017. The navies of both countries sailed in formation in the East Sea international waters, and the Lincoln's onboard aircraft, including the F-35C stealth fighters and E-2D Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft, also took off to fly in formation with JMSDF fighters over the East Sea international airspace.

In November 2017, the U.S. had deployed three nuclear carriers?the Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), and Nimitz (CVN-68)?into the East Sea for joint exercises with the Republic of Korea Navy.

The Lincoln's entry into the East Sea international waters this time coincided with the start of the Crisis Management Staff Training (CMST), a preparatory exercise for the first half of the year’s ROK-U.S. joint exercises. The ROK and U.S. have been conducting CMST from the 12th to the 15th, and plan to hold the main joint command post exercise from the 18th to the 28th. Initially, after the Lincoln nuclear carrier strike group entered the East Sea, the U.S. hoped to conduct trilateral maritime exercises with South Korea and Japan, but due to South Korea's reluctance, the three-nation exercise did not take place.