By Zachary Keck
The U.S. Navy and Marines are engaging in a series of drills with South Korea and Japan in the coming weeks.
The U.S. Navy kicked off a week of naval diplomacy in Northeast Asia on Wednesday.
According to the South Korean-based Yonhap News Agency, the U.S. and South Korean navies began a five-day joint exercise in Seoul’s southwestern seas on Wednesday. According to the report, the drill will involve “two South Korean Navy Aegis ships as well as the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, two American cruisers and one U.S. Aegis ship.”
It actually appears that two U.S. Aegis destroyers are participating in the exercises, however. Besides the carrier itself and its air wing, the George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG)—which arrived in Busan on Thursday—consists of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS Shiloh (CG 67) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63). However, a photo posted on the U.S. Forces Korea website suggests that the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) has also been on site for the drills.
In any case, the joint exercise itself appears to be comprised of at least three separate drills. The first one is taking place between U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) marines in South Korea’s East Sea (the Sea of Japan). The other two are naval drills. The first of these is taking place near the southern port of Mokpo and will be led by the USS George Washington. The second naval drill is taking place in waters north of Jeju Island where South Korea is constructing a major new naval base that some observers believe is aimed at hedging against China’s rising naval power.
Read the full story at The Diplomat