SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea on Saturday, Tripartite exercise Japan’s involvement comes as it steps up military drills to counter escalating threats from North Korea following a security pact with Russia.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group arrived in Busan on South Korea summons Russian ambassador To protest against a major agreement reached this week between Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
agreement Pledge mutual defense assistance South Korea said the deal poses a threat to its national security. Consider arms supplies to Ukraine In retaliation, they will cooperate to repel Russian aggression, but the move will certainly damage relations with Moscow.
The United States, South Korea and Japan announced the Freedom Edge exercise following a defense ministers’ meeting in Singapore in early June.
of Roosevelt Attack Force They are scheduled to take part in the exercises, which are scheduled to begin as soon as June. The South Korean military did not immediately disclose specific details about the training.
Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, commander of Carrier Strike Group 9, said the exercise was aimed at honing the ships’ tactical proficiency, improving interoperability between the two navies and “preparing us to respond to any crisis or contingency.”
The South Korean Navy said in a statement that the carrier’s visit demonstrates the alliance’s robust defense posture and “strong determination to respond to the growing threat from North Korea.” The visit comes seven months after another U.S. aircraft carrier, the Carl Vinson, visited South Korea in a show of strength against North Korea.
After the exercises, the Roosevelt Air Strike Group will depart for the Middle East to “promote regional stability, deter aggression, and protect the free flow of commerce in the region,” Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a statement.
Roosevelt’s attack force Participated in three-party exercises In April, China conducted joint drills with the South Korean and Japanese navies in the East China Sea, where concerns are growing over China’s territorial claims.
As the North Korean threat grows, the United States, South Korea and Japan are expanding joint training exercises and increasing the visibility of U.S. strategic military assets in the region to intimidate North Korea. The United States and South Korea are also updating their nuclear deterrence strategies, with South Korea seeking stronger assurances that the United States will use its nuclear capabilities quickly and decisively to protect its allies from a North Korean nuclear attack.
