US sends second nuclear-powered submarine to South Korea

Seoul [South Korea], July 25: A second US submarine arrived in South Korea on Monday, following the recent deployment of the first US nuclear-armed submarine in the country in four decades.
The USS Annapolis docked at a naval base on South Korea's southern island of Jeju to load military supplies as part of an unspecified operational mission, the South Korean navy said.
The move is seen as a part of the two allies joint effort to counter North Korea's nuclear threats.
North Korea issues threats
Earlier, the USS Kentucky had arrived at a port in Busan on the mainland about a week ago.
North Korea responded to the arrival of the USS Kentucky with the test-firing of ballistic and cruise missiles.
The defense minister of North Korea even made veiled threats, suggesting the possibility of using a nuclear weapon in response to the submarine's docking.
First US nuclear-armed sub visit since 1980s
The USS Annapolis, while powered by a nuclear reactor, is not nuclear-armed and is equipped with conventional weapons. Its primary mission is to destroy enemy ships and submarines.
In September last year, the USS Annapolis had participated in trilateral anti-submarine exercises with South Korea and Japan in international waters off the Korean Peninsula.
The USS Kentucky's docking in South Korea the previous week marked the first visit of a US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine to South Korea since the 1980s. It coincided with talks between the US and South Korea aimed at coordinating responses in the event of a nuclear conflict with North Korea.
Source: Times of Oman