Unprecedented Disclosure of US Nuclear Submarine Location... A Warning to North Korea

US Indo-Pacific Command Releases Photos of Docked Ships in Okinawa, Japan

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The United States has disclosed the location of the Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN-727), a strategic nuclear-powered submarine. It is rare for a strategic nuclear submarine, which requires secrecy, to announce its specific location within a vast operational area, and this is interpreted as a warning message to North Korea and China.

On the 24th, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command revealed on its website that the USS Michigan (SSGN-727) briefly stopped near Okinawa, Japan, on the 10th, releasing photos of the submarine surfaced above water, explaining that it was "part of the 7th Fleet operational area deployment."

The 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's main fleet operating in the Western Pacific, including South Korea and Japan. This disclosure of the strategic nuclear-powered submarine is seen as a warning directed at North Korea, which has recently raised the level of provocation with the maximum performance launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and China, which continues its global strategic competition.

The Ohio-class is the world's largest submarine, measuring 170.6 meters in length, 12.8 meters in width, and with a displacement of 19,000 tons. Currently, 18 vessels are active. During the Cold War when it was first launched, it was classified as a ballistic missile nuclear submarine (SSBN) equipped with Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) carrying nuclear warheads.

After the Cold War, four vessels including the USS Michigan were converted from SLBMs to carry up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles with a maximum range of 2,500 km, changing their classification to SSGNs. Their capabilities were also enhanced to transport special forces and support special operations. The USS Michigan docked in Busan in April and October of 2017, around the time of North Korea's 6th nuclear test, sending a warning to North Korea.

Rick Siff, Commander of the U.S. 7th Submarine Squadron, stated, "The presence of the submarine demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing maritime security and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region."