SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) — Three US aircraft carrier strike groups exercised together in waters off the east coast of South Korea on Sunday (November 12) in a rare show of force as President Donald Trump visits Asia with warnings about the nuclear threat from North Korea.
The drill included the USS Nimitz, the Ronald Reagan, the Theodore Roosevelt and their accompanying warships, the first time three U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups have exercised together in the region in a decade.
South Korean naval vessels also participated in the drill, South Korea’s military said. The military added that North Korea’s military activities were as usual, however, it is maintaining a military readiness posture for possible provocations by the North.
“South Korea and the U.S. navies are fully prepared for conducting combined operations anytime, anywhere. We’ll deter enemy’s provocations based on the strong alliance between South Korea and the United States,” South Korean Navy Captain, Lee Goo-Seong.
“North Korea’s military is now showing usual outdoor activities. However, our military is maintaining a readiness posture to prepare for all kind of possible provocative actions (by North Korea),” said the chief of South Korea’s Public Affairs Joint Chief of Staff Roh Jae-Cheon.
North Korea said on Saturday (November 11) that U.S. President Donald Trump’s first trip to Asia showed he was a “destroyer” and he had begged for war on the Korean peninsula.