South Korea and US Conduct Joint Exercises with Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Deployment... "Firm Response to North Korean Provocations"

The Republic of Korea Navy announced on the 4th that from the 2nd to the 4th, it conducted a joint carrier strike group exercise between the ROK and US navies in the international waters southeast of Okinawa, Japan. The photo shows Rear Admiral Ahn Sang-min, Commander of the ROK Navy's Rim of the Pacific Exercise Task Force, attending a ROK-US commanders' meeting aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on the 2nd, conversing with Rear Admiral Michael Donnelly, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 5 and CTF-70.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

South Korea and the United States conducted joint exercises involving a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier for the first time in 4 years and 7 months as a strong warning against North Korea. This is the first time the U.S. strategic asset has been deployed in joint exercises since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration took office.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on the 4th that from the 2nd for three days, the South Korean and U.S. navies conducted a carrier strike group joint exercise in the southeastern waters off Okinawa, Japan. It is the first time since November 2017, 4 years and 7 months ago, that South Korea and the U.S. have deployed a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in joint exercises.

On the South Korean navy side, the amphibious assault ship Marado (LPH, 14,500 tons), the Aegis destroyer Sejong the Great (DDG, 7,600 tons), and the destroyer Munmu the Great (DDH-II, 4,400 tons), which were en route to Hawaii to participate in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), participated in the joint exercise.

On the U.S. Navy side, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76, 100,000 tons), the cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54, 9,800 tons), the Aegis destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65, 6,900 tons), and the replenishment ship USS Big Horn participated.

The USS Ronald Reagan is called a "floating military base." Its flight deck carries F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets and MH-60R maritime helicopters.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff explained, "This exercise reaffirmed the firm will of the ROK-U.S. alliance to respond decisively to any provocation by North Korea, demonstrated the combined defense capabilities and posture of the ROK-U.S. alliance, and showed the U.S.'s strong commitment to extended deterrence."

They added, "Based on the solid ROK-U.S. alliance, the two countries will continue to strengthen their combined defense posture and maintain a constant state of readiness to guarantee overwhelming victory should North Korea provoke."