Mentioning the case of Australia promoting nuclear submarines with Ocurs… “Korea-US-Japan cooperation is not a luxury, but a necessity”
U.S. Navy chief of staff Michael Gilday presented the case of Australia, which is currently securing nuclear-powered submarines, mentioning Japan’s possession of nuclear-powered submarines, and mentioning the possibility of joint exercises involving U.S. warships in the West Sea.
According to USNI News, a military media outlet run by the US Naval Research Institute on the 15th, Gilday said in a recent online forum that “Japan’s decision to build a nuclear-powered submarine is a major step that requires years of political and financial support from the national level.” “For a project like that, you need the right people, training, platform, etc.,” he said.
In particular, he said that through the AUKUS, a security alliance between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia signed in September 2021, the Australian government will be able to build nuclear-powered attack submarines by the 2040s. indicated that it would be possible to
Under the Orcus Agreement, the United States and the United Kingdom agreed to support Australia’s nuclear submarine development, and Australia agreed to build eight nuclear submarines by 2040.
However, there are many variables as opinions are being raised in the US that the technology of nuclear submarines should not be handed over.
Although the Japanese government said “there is no plan to possess nuclear submarines” immediately after the establishment of Ocus, voices are constantly emerging in the Japanese political world that it is necessary to consider possessing nuclear submarines.
If Japan’s theory of possessing a nuclear submarine gains momentum under the support of the United States, it is observed that it will affect the Korean Navy’s long-cherished desire to secure a nuclear submarine.
In an interview with SBS, Gilday hinted at the possibility of US naval vessels entering the West Sea for combined exercises.
“I know very well that the West Sea is a hot issue,” he said.
The U.S. usually conducts drills in the East Sea and sends messages to North Korea, but the review of the exercises in the West Sea is understood to be in the context of expanding the scope of China’s containment.
In addition, he said, “I do not rule out any option” to the question of whether the US warships can have their home port in Korea, and gave a similar answer to whether the US would carry out a “freedom of navigation” operation in the West Sea, USNI News reported. told
Gilday emphasized that security cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan is “no longer a luxury, but a necessity.”
Regarding the issue of integrating the missile defense systems of the US, South Korea and Japan, he said, “We are on the precipice of something very important in targeting and other information sharing.”
This is interpreted as meaning that measures to systematize and strengthen the sharing of missile information between South Korea, the US and Japan are underway.
He also acknowledged that “historical issues still exist between South Korea and Japan, which could hinder planned exercises or throw a question mark on the continuation of information sharing.”
Gilday said that extended deterrence provided by the US to South Korea and Japan “includes a nuclear umbrella,” referring to the passage in the National Defense Strategy (NDS) released in October last year that “North Korea’s use of nuclear weapons will result in the end of its regime.” quoted
In addition, regarding the Japanese government’s plan to increase defense spending, he said, “It is an important development for strengthening Japan’s defense. If the Japanese government maintains this goal, Japan will follow the United States and China in defense spending.”
Japan plans to purchase weapons worth 14 trillion won from the US this year, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, F-35 stealth fighter jets and SM-3 interceptor missiles, four times the amount of last year.
/yunhap news
