Responding to North Korea’s sixth nuclear test, the South Korean government has reportedly requested requested a ton of U.S. hardware rush to their defense, including the 102,000 ton USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) which they would like deployed to the northeastern coast in order to prepare against military action against Kim Jong Un’s forces, dongA.com reports. S. Korean Joint Chiefs of staff reportedly made the request during a meeting with U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Scott Swift yesterday.
Update: South Korea has reportedly denied requesting that the Reagan be deployed to the border.
#SouthKorea's JCoS met PaCom's Scott Swift to request the deployment of the #USSRonaldReagan near #NLL to deter #NorthKorea. pic.twitter.com/tvINbqyjUq
— Intel Crab (@IntelCrab) September 6, 2017
Via Yonhap
South Korea has requested the regular deployment of such high-profile U.S. assets as flattops, nuclear submarines and long-range bombers to the peninsula.
He pointed out that it’s a decision to be made by policymakers and his mission is to get options ready as a commander in charge of around 200 ships and submarines, 1,180 aircraft and more than 140,000 sailors.
He added a “dual-carrier operation” in the region can be an option as well, given the strategic significance of aircraft carriers.
“But proximity, in my mind, is less important as a maritime commander, because what naval forces bring is great flexibility. The (USS Ronald) Reagan is out and about in the Pacific,” he said.
He said it’s possible to bring the Reagan, which has its home port in Japan, to a strike group in the waters around Korea or let it continue operations under the original planning process.
He dismissed a view that the North Korea risks are out of control, saying there’s a broad range of options. Top U.S. government officials have stated that all options are on the table when it comes to dealing with Pyongyang.
Swift was quite the diplomat, stating “If there’s a desire to have another carrier and there’s a desire to have more ships, more submarines, we have the capability and capacity to support that direction,” speaking to U.S. capabilities if and when it is ‘desired,’ presumably by U.S. commanders.
SAN DIEGO (Nov. 25, 2008) Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) while the ship makes her way past Point Loma into her homeport of San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Spike Call/Released)
