Nuclear U.S. Aircraft Carrier to Arrive in Busan Next Month

A nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier with a full-load displacement of over 100,000 long tons is expected to dock in Busan next month as North Korea ramps up provocations. 

The Nimitz-class carrier arrives as South Korea is conducting joint military drills with the U.S. and other allies in response to the North's latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile and short-range missiles earlier this month. 

"We are in discussions with the U.S. about a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier docking late next month and staying here until early April," a military source said Thursday. "It will take part in a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and various operations." 

President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to board the aircraft carrier and give a speech to "send a strong warning message against provocations," according to a government source. 

A trilateral naval exercise with Japan is also on the cards. The South Korean military wants to boost cooperation with Australia and Japan as well as the U.S. to deal with North Korea's development of submarine-launched ballistic missiles and nuclear-powered submarines. 

A military source said, "An SLBM is extremely difficult to detect and cooperation and joint drills with our allies are necessary to thwart them."