US nuclear submarine moors in South Korea
The US Seventh Fleet announced on Saturday the arrival of its fast attack submarine USS Springfield at the naval base in the South Korean port city of Busan. Los Angeles-class submarines make routine stops in South Korea as part of the Navy's deployed U.S. submarine forces in the Indo-Pacific.
"The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761) has entered the port of Busan," the US fleet said on social media. USS Springfield is classified as one of the "most capable ships in the entire US Navy". She is usually based in Guam in the Western Pacific.
The duration of the submarine's stay was not disclosed. The US Indo-Pacific Command said this week it would maintain close cooperation with South Korean forces in light of North Korea's "recent aggressive nuclear policy and advances in nuclear capabilities."
North Korea has repeatedly warned allies against establishing a constant military presence near the Korean peninsula, criticizing joint US-South Korea exercises. Since the beginning of the year, it has launched several ballistic missiles off the coast Oriental Coast.
