US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as North Korea strengthens ties with Russia

Asia-Pacific, News October 13, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered USS Ronald Regan aircraft carrier arrived at South Korea’s southern port of Busan along with its battle group on October 12, 2023. The U.S. aircraft carrier battle group visited South Korea to show support for its regional ally.

The arrival of the U.S.’s advanced aircraft carrier has added to the already intense security situation of the Korean Peninsula as North Korea linked it with a possible nuclear attack from South Korea and its Western ally.

According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, the carrier group is scheduled to stay at the port of Busan until October 16. The deployment is part of an agreement between South Korea and the U.S. that was made to increase “regular visibility” of U.S. military assets in the region.

The aircraft carrier and warships arrived in the region as the U.S. and South Korea had been raising concerns over North Korea’s attempt to negotiate an arms deal with Russia. North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last month.

Though not officially signed as a deal between the two countries, Pyongyang has started providing Moscow with small-scale weapons and artillery that it desperately needs to continue its war with Ukraine. South Korea is afraid that Russia will help North Korea establish its nuclear weapons in return.

*^{The USS Ronald Reagan approaches a port in Busan, South Korea, on September 23, 2022. (Image Credit: Yonhap/via Reuters)}*

North Korea’s reaction

The arrival of the U.S.’s nuclear-capable aircraft carrier has enraged Pyongyang, which views the deployment of U.S. weaponry around the Korean Peninsula as a major security threat in the region. North Korea’s state-owned media outlet, KCNA, reported that the aircraft carrier’s visit shows that the U.S. scheme for a nuclear attack on North Korea had reached “the most serious phase.” The KCNA report added that the move is meant for “the outbreak of a nuclear war to come to the fore”.

“It is an undisguised military provocation driving the situation to irrevocable catastrophic circumstances,” KCNA said in its report. Our “most powerful and rapid first strike will be given to the ‘extended deterrence’ means, used by the U.S. to hallucinate its followers, and the bases of evil in the Korean peninsula and its vicinity,” it added.

North Korea self propelled artillery — ^{Self propelled artillery roll pass during a military parade marking the 70th anniversary of North Korea’s foundation in Pyongyang, North Korea, September 9, 2018. (Image Credit: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)}

North Korean leader has been strengthening ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two exchanged messages following Kim’s trip to Russia. In his recent message, Kim Jong Un said he was “very satisfied” with “an exchange of candid and comprehensive opinions” during the pair’s recent meeting. He also willed Russia to defeat “the imperialists’ persistent hegemonic policy and moves to isolate and stifle Russia,” apparently referring to the Ukraine war.

In return, Putin told Kim that he was satisfied with the countries’ relations and hoped they would continue to improve.

Analysts and observers believe that Kim is seeking Russian help to build more reliable weapons systems targeting the U.S. and South Korea. Washington and Seoul have warned that Moscow and Pyongyang would pay a price if they move ahead with the speculated weapons transfer deal in breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban any weapons trading with North Korea.