US nuclear sub surfaces in South Korea for first time since height of Cold War - The Times

US nuclear sub surfaces in South Korea for first time since height of Cold War

An American nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) has surfaced in South Korea, marking the first such visit since the 1980s.

The development coincides with the beginning of talks by the two allies on co-ordinating their response in the event of a nuclear war with North Korea.

“As we speak, an American nuclear submarine is making port in Busan today. That’s the first visit of American nuclear submarine in decades,” Kurt Campbell, the White House’s Indo-Pacific co-ordinator, told reporters in Seoul as the nations held their first Nuclear Consultative Group discussions.

SSBNs rely on stealth to ensure their survival and preserve their ability to launch nuclear missiles during a war, rarely making public stops in foreign ports.

“To strengthen deterrence against North Korea, Washington and Seoul