President Yoon Boards US Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier... Demonstrates "Strong ROK-US Alliance"

Third Sitting President to Board US Aircraft Carrier in History
US Carrier Visit Symbolizes "Ironclad Defense Commitment"
"ROK-US-Japan Cooperation Will Be a Strong Deterrent Against North Korea"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is inspecting the flight deck aboard the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt at the Busan Naval Operations Base on the 25th.
The USS Roosevelt entered the Busan Naval Operations Base on the 22nd to participate in 'Freedom Edge,' the first multi-domain military exercise involving South Korea, the United States, and Japan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol boarded a U.S. aircraft carrier docked in Busan on the 25th and emphasized, "The ROK-U.S. alliance is stronger than ever, and our greatest alliance in the world can defeat any enemy and achieve victory."

Amid recent military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, President Yoon's boarding of a U.S. aircraft carrier as a sitting president is interpreted as a demonstration of the combined defense posture between South Korea and the United States.

President Yoon visited the USS Theodore Roosevelt, docked at the Busan Naval Operations Base, in the afternoon, according to a written briefing by Kim Soo-kyung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office.

This marks the third time a sitting South Korean president has boarded a U.S. aircraft carrier, following former Presidents Park Chung-hee in 1974 and Kim Young-sam in 1994.

The Roosevelt recently arrived to participate in "Freedom Edge," the first trilateral multi-domain joint military exercise involving South Korea, the U.S., and Japan this month.

The Presidential Office explained, "The visit of the Roosevelt to Korea is an implementation measure of the 'Washington Declaration' adopted by the ROK-U.S. leaders in April last year, symbolizing the U.S.'s ironclad defense commitment to Korea, including strong extended deterrence."

President Yoon Suk-yeol boarded the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt at the Busan Naval Operations Base on the 25th and received an explanation about the carrier from Captain Brian Scrum Roosevelt in the flight deck control room.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

When President Yoon boarded the Roosevelt, a bell announcing the president's boarding rang, and about 300 ROK-U.S. service members cheered to welcome him.

President Yoon took the aircraft elevator to the flight deck and received explanations about the carrier's main combat aircraft, including the F/A-18, from Christopher Alexander, commander of the 9th Carrier Air Wing. This fighter jet appeared in the movie "Top Gun: Maverick."

He then moved to the hangar to encourage ROK-U.S. troops and stated, "North Korea is advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities while openly declaring the possibility of nuclear first use, threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and the region. The ROK-U.S. alliance is stronger than ever."

He added, "The Roosevelt will set sail tomorrow to participate in Freedom Edge, the first trilateral multi-domain military exercise among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. The cooperation among these three countries, which share the values of liberal democracy, will become another strong deterrent alongside the ROK-U.S. alliance."

President Yoon's visit to the Roosevelt is interpreted as a response to the recent military closeness between North Korea and Russia.

The Presidential Office pointed out, "North Korea is continuously escalating military tensions on the Korean Peninsula through advancing nuclear and missile capabilities and repeated threats and provocations, while deepening military cooperation with Russia, including ongoing arms transfers to Russia."

The event was attended by Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, Navy Chief of Staff Yang Yong-mo, Deputy Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command Kang Shin-chul, and Navy Operations Commander Choi Sung-hyuk. On the U.S. side, attendees included Christopher Lanev, commander of U.S. Eighth Army, and Neil Kopraski, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea.

President Yoon Suk-yeol boarded the US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt at the Busan Naval Operations Base on the 25th, encouraging South Korean and US troops in the hangar while delivering a speech.
This is the third time a sitting President of the Republic of Korea has boarded a US aircraft carrier, following former Presidents Park Chung-hee in 1974 and Kim Young-sam in 1994.
[Image source=Yonhap News]