Yoon: S. Korea will respond resolutely to N. Korea’s nuclear threat

Jul 20, 2023, 08:04 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee board the USS Kentucky nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) docked at the Busan Naval Base on July 19, 2023./ Source: Presidential Office

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Yoon Suk-yeol boarded a U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) on Wednesday as the first leader of US allies, sending a strong warning against North Korea, which continues to carry out military provocations.

Yoon and his wife Kim Keon-hee boarded the USS Kentucky (SSBN 737) which docked at the Busan Naval Base on Tuesday in time for the launch of the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG). The USS Kentucky can launch 20 Trident II D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, which are one of the primary nuclear delivery systems of the U.S. Navy, and serves as a formidable deterrent aimed at discouraging a nuclear attack.

“I am relieved to see the most important U.S. nuclear strategic assets with my own eyes,” Yoon said. “It is meaningful and reassuring to visit the USS Kentucky, one of the most powerful strategic assets existing.”

“The USS Kentucky’s deployment shows clearly the commitment of South Korea and the United States to regularly deploy U.S. strategic assets and strengthen the credibility of extended deterrence,” Yoon said, expressing gratitude to U.S. President Joe Biden and other U.S. officials.

“South Korea and the U.S. discussed the joint planning and execution of nuclear operations involving a combination of U.S. nuclear assets and South Korean non-nuclear assets, while agreeing to enhance the visibility of U.S. strategic assets around the Korean Peninsula,” Yoon said. “By doing so, we will make North Korea not even dream of carrying out a nuclear provocation, and we warned clearly that should North Korea carry out a provocation, it will lead to the end of that regime,” he said.

In addition, Yoon stressed, “The two countries will overwhelmingly and resolutely respond to North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats through the NCG and regular deployments of strategic assets, such as the SSBN.”

U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera, who guided the USS Kentucky, said the SSBN’s entry into South Korea for the first time in 42 years “demonstrates the U.S.’ ironclad commitment to he Republic of Korea for our extended deterrence guarantee.”

“The USS Kentucky is a very important strategic platform among the three pillars of U.S. strategic assets,” LeCamera said. “It is one of the most viable triangular system assets and an important component of the extended deterrence by the U.S. to South Korea.”

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