September 18, 2017

A US aircraft carrier is scheduled to join Republic of Korea Navy ships for a set of naval exercises in October this year.

According to a South Korean defense ministry report, cited by Xinhuanet, US Navy’s forward-deployed carrier USS Ronald Reagan is set to sail to the Korean peninsula for the joint naval exercise.

The carrier’s visit is part of a broader response to the threat North Korean nuclear missile tests present. The South Korean defense ministry’s report on Monday further said a US B-1B strategic bomber would be sent to the Korean Peninsula and missile warning drills with US and Japan would start this month and run through October.

The nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is currently on a routine fall patrol in the 7th Fleet area of operations having departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka on September 8.

During its regular patrols of the Indo-Asia-Pacific, the carrier pays visits and interacts with naval forces of the regional navies.

This year’s engagement with the South Korean naval forces will take place in the same month as last year when the Ronald Reagan and ships from its carrier strike group arrived in Busan on October 16.