Bulletin:US Deploys Nuclear-Armed Submarine to South Korea

On 18 July 2023,USS Kentucky (SSBN 737),an Ohio-class nuclear-armed Ballistic Missile Submarine,was deployed to Republic of Korea Busan Naval Base.The submarine was escorted into the port by two ROK Navy destroyers.The deployment,the first by a US Navy Ballistic Missile Submarine to ROK since the early 1980s,was one of the steps agreed to in the Washington Declaration by US President Joseph R. Biden and ROK President Yoon Suk-Yeol on 26 April 2023 at The White House.*The deployment is an expression of the extended deterrence concept.The concept means that the US will defend its Allies by any means necessary,including the use of nuclear weapons.At the same time as the Kentucky's arrival,the first meeting of the US-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) was taking place in the ROK President's Office.Leading the US delegation was Kurt Campbell,Coordinator of Indo-Pacific Affairs for the National Security Council at The White House.Leading the ROK delegation was Kim Tae-hyo,Principal Deputy National Security Adviser.Said Kim:We've gained confidence that South Korea and the United States will be able to sufficiently and decisively strengthen extended deterrence to a degree where the need for an independent nuclear deterrent (by ROK) becomes unecessary.*A joint statement by the NCG issued after the meeting siad that:Both sides affirmed that the NCG will play an integral role in discussing and advancing bilateral approaches,including guidelines,to nuclear and strategic planning and response to DPRK (North Korean) aggression.*Kim concluded by adding that:Additionally both sides have agreed to expand the sharing of information on nuclear and conventional forces and establish a system and procedures that enable bilateral agreements of South Korea and the United States in any nuclear crisis situation.*