--- title: "U.S. Navy Shows Off Might In South Korea As North Threatens Guam Once Again" description: "The vessels are calling on the port of Busan before conducting large scale drills with South Korea next week." date: "2017-10-13" modified: "2017-10-13" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway" url: "https://www.twz.com/15133/u-s-navy-shows-off-might-in-south-korea-as-north-threatens-guam-once-again" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Carriers" - "Indo-Pacific" - "Navies" - "News & Features" - "Nimitz Class" - "North Korea" - "Nuclear Guided Missile Submarines (SSGNs)" - "Ohio Class (SSGN variant)" - "Sea" - "South Korea" - "Submarines" - "U.S. Navy" - "USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)" tags: - "Ballistic Missiles" - "Busan" - "exercises" - "Guam" - "Kim Jong Un" - "Naval Drills" - "North Korea" - "South Korea" - "USS Michigan" - "USS Ronald Reagan" - "USS Tucson" --- # U.S. Navy Shows Off Might In South Korea As North Threatens Guam Once Again ![]() *www.twz.com* Some of the most powerful vessels in the U.S. Navy's arsenal are descending on South Korea for port visits before executing large scale naval drills with the Republic of South Korea Navy. This includes the arrival of the *Ohio* class nuclear [guided missile submarine]() *USS Michigan* today and the *Los Angeles* class nuclear fast attack submarine *USS Tucson* just days ago. The supercarrier *USS Ronald Reagan* will arrive at the port of Busan next week along with her escorts. Unsurprisingly, North Korea is very unhappy about the naval buildup and has once again threatened a missile launch towards Guam before the drills commence. North Korea's threat to demonstrate a nuclear capable ballistic barrage near the U.S. territory of Guam is nothing new. This summer, as rhetoric between the U.S. and North Korea hit a crescendo, Pyongyang made the same threat, but after Kim Jong Un reviewed the plan, he supposedly [decided to "wait and see"]() how events progress before executing the provocative launch. https://twitter.com/\_/status/918699212405071872 None of this means Pyongyang won't execute such a plan now, especially as the relationship between the two countries has entered uncharted territory following North [Korea's hydrogen bomb test]() in early September and the exchange of [top-level diplomatic unpleasantries]() at this year's U.N. General Assembly. https://twitter.com/\_/status/917930761789104129 The high profile port visits aren't just a matter of R&R and cultural outreach for the ships' crews, far from it in fact. Just like the [now constant bomber flights]() over and near the Korean Peninsula, they are meant to be major shows of force aimed at North Korean consumption. A similar display, minus the nuclear fast attack submarine, occurred earlier this year with the supercarrier *USS Carl Vinson* and [*USS Michigan* calling on Busan]() last Spring as the relationship between the U.S. and North Korea began its steeper descent. Next week's naval drills will supposedly feature a [large counter special operations element](), with activities occurring in both the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. North Korea's special operations units are tasked with infiltrating deep into South Korean territory in the opening hours of a conflict, where they will take down high value individuals, attack command and control targets and bases, as well as wreak havoc on infrastructure and the general populous. Insertion methods include low altitude night intrusions by [throngs of AN-2 biplanes](), tunnels that run under the DMZ, and [even paragliders]() would be used to cross over the DMZ. ![message-editor%2F1507944479009-ap\_555339767306.jpg]() *USS Ronald Reagan made a port visit to Hong Kong before heading towards South Korea. , *AP** But North Korea's most menacing and perhaps its forces' most trained for insertion method of all is via small boat, midget submarine, or by diesel electric submarine which will allow commandos to get close enough to the coast at night to wade ashore. With this in mind, training to detect and engage these threats before they land on the beach is probably a very high priority these days for the Republic of South Korea Navy and the U.S. Navy. Besides its 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, which would rain down on targets in North Korea during [the opening moments of a conflict](), the *Michigan* is [specially equipped to]() carryout clandestine special operations missions, and was seen with two dry dock shelters attached to its spine when it pulled into Busan. The *Tucson* can also support smaller detachments of Navy SEALs. The 7th Fleet has [integrated special operations units]() more aggressively into its carrier strike groups in recent years as well, and SEALs and MARSOC detachments work from the flattops and their escorts, in this case the *Arleigh Burke* class destroyers *USS Stethem* (DDG 63) and *USS Mustin* (DDG 89). ![message-editor%2F1507943655354-jadj25.jpg]() **USS Ohio*, one of four of the converted SSBNs that are now Tomahawk missile arsenal ships and special operations platforms is seen with a SEAL Delivery Vehicle outside its dry dock shelter. , *KIM JAE-HWAN/AFP/Getty Images** With the big naval drills looming, we'll see if North Korea lashes out, and hopefully it won't be via another nuclear detonation. North Korea's Punggye-ri test site seems to [have become very unstable]() since the last blast, leading to major concerns over a potential release of radiation. If it is unusable, it could be an additional reason why North Korea has [threatened a mid-ocean nuclear test]() recently. There have been reports that multiple North Korean missiles have been seen being moved to launch sites as of this evening, and that very well could be, but it seems like we get these reports virtually every weekend now. https://twitter.com/\_/status/918994823805325312 Although [rumors persist]() of back channel negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea, it could be that Kim Jong Un has decided another escalation is needed. That escalation would likely be a downrange multiple IRBM test, likely targeting waters off Guam as promised, or the test of another ICBM. In other news, Donald Trump thinks America's rickety missile shield is almost perfectly effective, telling Sean Hannity on Wednesday: > “We have missiles that can knock out a missile in the air 97 percent of the time, and if you send two of them, it’s going to get knocked down.” This of course [isn't accurate](). As we have [discussed in detail](), America's so called missile shield is far from a perfect antidote to ICBM attacks. Many variables go into a successful intercept, and the real world is different than controlled test conditions, especially if multiple missiles are launched at one time. The fact that the President thinks completely otherwise may be unnerving to some as it invites more aggressive and risky policy decisions toward the so called Hermit Kingdom. We'll keep an eye on the region over the weekend and will report if something major occurs. *Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com* ## Author Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day. ### Author social links [Twitter]()