[Yang Nakgyu's Defence Club] One Day After North Korea's Provocation... US Nuclear Submarine Arrives in Korea

US Strategic Nuclear Submarine USS Michigan Arrives in Busan After 6 Years

The U.S. strategic nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan (SSGN-727) arrived at Busan Naval Base on the morning of the 16th. The SSGN is a nuclear-powered guided missile submarine that launches submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs), and this visit marks its first to Korea in over six years since October 2017. It arrived just one day after North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

The Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine Michigan (SSGN 727) of the U.S. 7th Fleet is entering the Navy Busan Base on the morning of the 16th. Measuring 170.6 meters in length with a displacement of 18,000 tons, the Michigan is known as one of the largest submarines in the world and is equipped with approximately 150 Tomahawk missiles capable of accurately striking targets 2,000 km away.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of National Defense stated that "Taking this visit of the U.S. SSGN to Korea as an opportunity, the ROK-U.S. Navy will conduct joint special operations training and enhance operational capabilities to respond to North Korea's threats."

Two months after the ROK-U.S. summit announcement of strategic asset deployment... Possibility of additional joint exercises

The ROK and U.S. discussed the permanent deployment of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula in 2017. However, this was effectively halted as a reconciliation and dialogue phase emerged during the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. At the ROK-U.S. summit in April, the possibility of frequent deployment of nuclear-powered submarines to the Korean Peninsula was mentioned. At the joint press conference, U.S. President Joe Biden stated, "We will not station nuclear strategic weapons on the Korean Peninsula," drawing a line on 'nuclear deployment on the Peninsula,' but added, "Nuclear submarines will be visible nearby."

The Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine Michigan (SSGN 727) of the U.S. 7th Fleet is entering the Navy Busan Base on the morning of the 16th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Until now, the U.S. has deployed strategic assets such as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and strategic bombers to the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and the intention is to include nuclear strategic submarines as well. A senior official from the presidential office said at the time, "Nuclear submarines will be deployed to the Korean Peninsula within a few weeks," signaling an acceleration in the deployment of nuclear-powered submarines to the Peninsula. Considering the realistic constraints that the U.S. does not regard South Korea's nuclear armament or tactical nuclear deployment as options, this is seen as a compromise to achieve effects beyond tactical nuclear deployment.

Some predict that if North Korea's provocations continue, following nuclear-powered submarines, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers could also be deployed in waters near the Korean Peninsula. Especially as ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation on North Korea strengthens, it is possible that naval forces could enter nearby waters for ROK-U.S. and ROK-U.S.-Japan joint exercises following U.S.-Japan drills.

Expected Chinese backlash... Deterioration of ROK-China relations following the Xing Haiming incident

The issue is the expected backlash from China. Depending on the types and operational methods of strategic assets deployed on the Korean Peninsula, not only North Korea but also China may strongly oppose. Following THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), recent criticism of South Korea's foreign policy by Xing Haiming, the Chinese ambassador to South Korea, has deepened the rift between South Korea and China. Because of this, there are concerns about a vicious cycle repeating: increased North Korean nuclear and missile capabilities due to pressure, strengthened ROK-U.S. military responses, Chinese backlash, and new provocations by North Korea, leading to a worsening security situation around the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, nuclear strategic submarines are considered part of the U.S. "nuclear triad" along with strategic bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The U.S. has three types of nuclear-powered submarines: the LA-class, Virginia-class, and Seawolf-class nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN); the Ohio-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines (SSGN) that carry Tomahawk cruise missiles for strike missions; and the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

The USS Michigan, an Ohio-class submarine commissioned in 1982 as an SSBN, is one of four nuclear-powered submarines converted to SSGNs in 2007. It has a displacement of 18,750 tons, measures 170 meters in length and 12.8 meters in width, and can carry about 150 crew members. It can travel up to 37 km per hour and dive to depths of 243 meters. It can be armed with up to 154 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km.