A second nuclear-powered U.S. submarine arrived in South Korea on Monday as talks are underway between UN Command and North Korea over an American serviceman who crossed into the communist country.
The second submarine’s arrival follows North Korea’s test firing of ballistic missiles, which was reportedly an attempt to demonstrate it could execute nuclear strikes against South Korea and U.S. naval vessels in the vicinity, according to NPR KERA.
The first submarine, the USS Kentucky, arrived last week and marked the first time in 40 years that a nuclear-armed U.S. naval asset had been sent to the Korean peninsula. However, the USS Annapolis, the second sub, is not armed with nuclear weapons.
“The two countries’ navies plan to strengthen the combined defence posture with the arrival of the USS Annapolis, and conduct exchange activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the alliance,” said the South Korean navy in a statement, Reuters reported.
After the USS Kentucky was sent to a South Korean port last Tuesday, North Korea launched two ballistic missiles on Wednesday and several cruise missiles on Saturday.
North Korea’s defense minister launched veiled threats against the United States and South Korea after learning about the first submarine. He suggested the submarine’s arrival could prompt North Korea to use nuclear weapons, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“I remind the US military of the fact that the ever-increasing visibility of the deployment of the strategic nuclear submarine and other strategic assets may fall under the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons specified in the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] law on the nuclear force policy,” Defence Minister Kang Sun-nam said in a statement.
Meanwhile, a UN Command deputy commander said Monday that talks had begun with North Korea over Travis King, the American soldier who ran across the heavily armed demilitarized zone separating North Korea and South Korea.
King’s well-being is the focus of UN Command’s efforts, Gen. Andrew Harrison said, declining to elaborate, according to NPR.
North Korea has not commented publicly on King, who crossed the border instead of returning to Fort Bliss in Texas to face military disciplinary proceedings in relation to crimes he allegedly committed in South Korea, NBC News reported.
