The US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier “George Washington“ arrived on Wednesday at the naval base in Busan, South Korea's second largest city, Yonhap news agency reported.
The vessel is accompanied by a guided-missile cruiser and two destroyers equipped with the “Aegis“ system. The visit to the port in Busan is intended to replenish supplies and allow the crew to rest.
“The Republic of Korea plans to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries' navies, as well as improve defense capabilities on the occasion of the arrival of the Fifth Aircraft Carrier Group,“ the South Korean military said.
This is the first visit of a US aircraft carrier to the port under the leadership of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. He won the election in early June. The last time a US Navy aircraft carrier visited Busan was in March.
North Korean authorities are critical of the presence of US aircraft carriers in South Korean naval bases. The sister of North Korean leader Kim Yo-jong called it “the most hostile act”. In late October, US President Donald Trump visited the Republic of Korea. He was expected to meet North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un at the border, as he did in 2019. However, Trump said he had not been able to agree on a time for the meeting with Kim Jong-un.
Ships from the Littoral Fleet of the United States Pacific Fleet's Joint Forces Russia conducted exercises to repel a massive air strike with cruise missiles from a simulated enemy in the Sea of Japan, the Navy's press service reported.
“During the exercises, the large anti-submarine ships “Admiral Tributs“ and “Admiral Panteleev“, as well as the corvettes “Perfect“ and “Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov“, repelled a massive attack with cruise missiles from a simulated enemy. The air attack weapons used simultaneously included a training cruise missile “Mosquito“, launched from the R-14 missile boat, and several target missiles “Saman“, launched from the small anti-submarine ship “Sovetskaya Gavan“, the press service of the Navy said. the statement.
The “air attack“ was also detected with passive electronic jamming. “After intercepting the air targets, they were hit by the “Redut“ and “Dagger“ anti-aircraft missile systems at a safe distance for the detachment“, the statement emphasizes.
The press service reported that the missile launches were carried out in the Sea of Japan in accordance with the fleet's combat training plan.
Earlier, during anti-submarine exercises, the “Admiral Tributs“ and “Admiral Panteleev“ naval search and strike groups of the Pacific Fleet destroyed a simulated enemy submarine during reconnaissance and search operations.
As part of the ongoing exercises of the mixed flotilla of the Primorsky Fleet, more than 15 warships, boats, submarines and auxiliary vessels were deployed in the Sea of Japan.