Responding To North Korea's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Test, US Submarine Tempuh 320 Km Reaches South Korea

Illustration. US military nuclear submarine on April 11, 2006. (United States Navy-AL AS-Antara)

JAKARTA - South Korea's Ministry of Defense (South Korea) said a unit of a nuclear-powered submarine belonging to the United States Navy (US) arrived in South Korea on Sunday 17 December.

This attack submarine is named USS Missouri with hull number SSN-780. Entering the South Korean Navy base in Busan, which is 320 kilometers away or km from Virginia, USA.

"With the deployment of USS Missouri, we plan to strengthen naval cooperation with the United States and strengthen our joint defense posture," read a written statement from the South Korean Ministry of Defense, quoted from Yonhap-OANA-Antara, Sunday, December 17.

The arrival of the US military submarine follows concerns that it will launch North Korea's (North Korea) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the end of 2023.

The submarine deployment comes just three weeks after the USS Santa Fe (SSN-763), a Los Angeles-based submarine, entered a Japanese Navy base in Jeju.

Previously, South Korea's Deputy Principal National Security Adviser, Kim Tae-hyo revealed that North Korea may launch an ICBM in December 2023.

Kim conveyed that upon arrival in Washington, USA, to attend the Nuclear Consultation Group (NCG), a South Korea-US security meeting designed to discuss nuclear and strategic planning issues.

North Korea last tested the Hwasong-18 solid-fueled ICBM in July.