U.S. aircraft carrier deploys off Korean peninsula amid tensions with North

Published 04/11/2022, 10:05 PM
Updated 04/12/2022, 07:16 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The USS Abraham Lincoln deploys from San Diego Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, U.S., January 3, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

By Josh Smith

SEOUL (Reuters) -The USS Abraham Lincoln strike group is operating in waters off the Korean peninsula, the U.S. Navy said on Tuesday, amid tensions over North Korea's missile launches and concerns that it could soon resume testing nuclear weapons.

"The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is conducting bilateral operations with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Sea of Japan," Commander Hayley Sims, a spokesperson for the Japan-based U.S. Seventh Fleet, said in a statement.

This is the first time since 2017 that a carrier group has deployed to the waters between South Korea and Japan, and comes as U.S. officials are increasingly concerned that North Korea could carry out an underground nuclear test in the coming days.

Sims said the carrier was conducting "routine bilateral operations" to reassure our allies and partners of the U.S. commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

"Our training enhances the credibility of conventional deterrence by demonstrating the strength of our bilateral partnerships," she added.

On March 15 the USS Abraham Lincoln led military exercises in the Yellow Sea, launching its F-35 stealth fighters and other jets in what the U.S. military said was a demonstration in response to the increased pace and scale of North Korea's ballistic missile launches.

Last month North Korea conducted a full test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time since 2017.

During the last major flurry of ICBM and nuclear tests in 2017 the USS Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt and Nimitz, and their multi-ship strike groups, deployed to the Sea of Japan, also known in Korea as the East Sea, in a show of force.

Advisers to South Korea's president-elect sought redeployment of U.S. strategic assets, such as aircraft carriers, nuclear bombers and submarines, to the Korean peninsula during talks held on a visit to Washington last week.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The USS Abraham Lincoln deploys from San Diego Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, U.S., January 3, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

South Korea's defence ministry said it was aware that the carrier group was in international waters but declined to comment further.

North Korea has previously criticised U.S. military drills as a rehearsal for war, and said they increase tensions.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.