The USS Mississippi, a nuclear-powered fast-attack Virginia-class submarine, made a stop at the southern South Korean island of Jeju on Wednesday, possibly as part of a continued warning to Pyongyang, Yonhap reports.
The US and South Korean navies «share a strong partnership that is continually strengthened by routine interactions that enhance and foster our relationship,» Rear Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Naval Forces Korea, said in a statement Wednesday.
#submarine #USSMississippi #ssn782 #ssn #VirginiaClass #Block2 #UnitedStatesNavy #submarines ・ U. S. Pacific Fleet ・ JEJU ISLAND, Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea (Nov. 22,2017) The Virginia-class attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782) pulls into the pier of Republic of Korea (ROK) Jeju Naval Base as part of a routine port visit. Homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, this is Mississippi’s first visit to Jeju in support of the ROK-U. S. alliance. (U. S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman William Carlisle)
A post shared by Eric Lewis (@subspotr) on Nov 22,2017 at 4:38am PST
The USS Mississippi’s commanding officer, Eric J. Rozek, said his team of about 150 sailors was «honored to be the first submarine to visit Jeju.»
The Indo-Asia Pacific region deployment is part of «decades of exchange, training and collaboration,» Rozek said, adding that bilateral cooperation helps «build capabilities that, taken together, enhance regional security and stability.» While it’s homeport is in Hawaii, the US Navy boasts that the Mississippi is able to operate globally.
Not everyone under and around the ocean is worried about the USS Mississippi posing an imminent threat. Video of a dolphin swimming alongside the 360-foot stealthy submarine was captured in July.
Dolphins Escort the USS Mississippi pic.twitter.com/B0IBhTzAWj
No dolphin escorts have yet been reported near Jeju, though.
