Another US nuclear-powered submarine arrives in South Korea

A US nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Annapolis, arrived on Monday on the South Korean island of Jeju (southwest) just three days after another Washington submersible left the port of Busan (southeast) at a time marked by the escalation of regional tension and the upcoming celebration of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War (1950-53).

The USS Annapolis has arrived in Jeju to reload supplies, South Korean Navy spokesman Jang Do-yeong explained at a press conference.

The arrival of the submersible occurs at a time marked by recent North Korean weapons tests and the also recent visit of the USS Kentucky (which, unlike the USS Annapolis, has the capacity to fire nuclear missiles) which departed on July 21.

Jang added that “the defense authorities of the Republic of Korea (official name of South Korea) and the US are holding consultations” about the possibility that the navies of both countries carry out a joint exercise taking advantage of the visit of the USS Annapolis.

The arrival of the submarine also occurs three days before the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, an anniversary that is celebrated with special pomp in North Korea, where a large military parade has been preparing for months in the capital, Pyongyang.

An editorial in the country's main newspaper, Rodong, has assured, ahead of the important anniversary, that “there can be no limit when it comes to strengthening military power” to guarantee the country's self-defense.

Following the failure of 2019 denuclearization talks, tensions have soared again on the Korean peninsula, with Pyongyang rejecting any offer of dialogue and conducting a record number of missile tests, and Seoul and Washington resuming their grand joint exercises and regularly deploying US strategic assets in the region.