U.S. guided-missile submarine arrives in South Korea amid North Korea’s missile tests

The submarine’s arrival in South Korea is part of a recent bilateral agreement on enhancing “regular visibility” of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula. The nuclear-powered submarine USS Michigan approaches a naval base in Busan, South Korea

The United States deployed a nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying about 150 Tomahawk missiles to South Korea on June 16, a day after North Korea resumed missile tests in protest of the U.S.-South Korean live-fire drills.

The USS Michigan's arrival in South Korea, the first of its kind in six years, is part of a recent bilateral agreement on enhancing “regular visibility” of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program, according to South Korean officials.

Also Read | U.S., South Korea announce largest field exercises in 5 years

With the deployment of the USS Michigan, the U.S. and South Korean navies are to conduct drills on boosting their special operation capabilities and joint ability to cope with growing North Korean nuclear threats, the South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement.

It said the U.S. submarine arrived at the southeastern port city of Busan but didn't say how long it would stay in South Korean waters. The USS Michigan is one of the biggest submarines in the world. The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine can be armed with 150 Tomahawk missiles with a range of about 2,500 km and is capable of launching special forces missions, according to the South Korean statement.

Also Read | U.S., South Korea hold air drills involving B-52H strategic bomber

The South Korean and U.S. militaries have been expanding their exercises in reaction to North Korea's provocative run of missile tests since last year.