US Navy Chief of Naval Operations: It is Natural to Expect South Korean Nuclear Submarines to Be Used to Counter China, South Korea's Navy Can Transform into a Global Navy

US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Coddell said in an interview on Friday that if Washington expects the South Korean Navy to use nuclear-powered submarines to assist in countering the threat from China after their construction, it would be "a natural expectation."

Coddell made these remarks as the US released a joint "fact brief" last week, officially approving South Korea's construction of its first nuclear-powered submarine. The document detailed the discussions at the October 29 meeting between South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Trump.

Coddell told reporters in Seoul on Friday, "I think it's a natural expectation to use this submarine to counter China," when asked whether the nuclear submarine could potentially play a role in countering China and reshaping the South Korean Navy's role in a broader East Asian region.

Coddell noted, "I think with this capability, the US would expect this partnership - again - to cooperate in a alliance form, to address our common goals, to deal with what the US perceives as our step-by-step threats - China. I think, to a large extent, South Korea also shares the same concerns about China, so this capability should be part of the equation."

Amid escalating U.S.-China competition and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, Washington has been urging global allies to increase defense spending and contribute to "collective defense" to strengthen cooperation with allies. Previously, at the Gyeongju summit, Yoon Suk-yeol publicly requested Trump to allow the U.S. to supply nuclear-powered submarine fuel to South Korea to better track North Korean and Chinese submarines, stating that this would also alleviate the burden on U.S. forces.

Given the strategic value of nuclear-powered submarines, Coddell said in the interview that nuclear-powered submarines "bring a different level of deterrence capability." Operating such submarines may bring greater responsibilities to the South Korean Navy, not only at the regional level but also globally.

Coddell said, "As the movie 'Spider-Man' says: 'With great power comes great responsibility.' I think South Korea will have the responsibility to deploy these submarines globally and transform from a regional navy to a global navy."

When asked where the envisioned nuclear-powered submarine would be built - in South Korea or in an American shipyard acquired by Hanwha Group, as Trump mentioned on social media - Coddell said this question should be directed to the White House.

But even setting aside the nuclear submarine project, Coddell emphasized that the U.S. and South Korea need to establish a strong partnership to address China's activities in the "gray zone," and this partnership should be based on the model of "peace through strength."

Coddell said, "We have witnessed such activities occurring around the world, and we are deeply concerned. That's why our partnership with South Korea is so important. There must be a strong deterrent mechanism between the two countries to respond to such activities."

Coddell added, "My goal with the U.S. Seventh Fleet, the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and other U.S. military partners, along with South Korea, is to sincerely demonstrate that this will not be tolerated."

Given this context, Coddell said that joint naval exercises in international waters of the Yellow Sea to counter China's challenges "are absolutely not ruled out," but he did not provide further details on the operations. Currently, such exercises mainly take place in the eastern and southern seas of the Korean Peninsula.

It is reported that during his visit to South Korea, Coddell will visit local shipyards, and he expects South Korea to play a "significant role" in helping the U.S. enhance shipbuilding capabilities. He pointed out that there are legal barriers in the cooperation of combat ships, but for types of ships such as supply ships, auxiliary ships, tankers, and car carriers, the two countries can "immediately" cooperate with almost no restrictions.

When asked about North Korea's efforts to enhance its naval capabilities, Coddell pointed out that although North Korea currently does not pose a maritime threat to the U.S., it is necessary to closely monitor its activities to prevent threats to South Korea, and mentioned underwater unmanned technology as one of the areas requiring countermeasures.

Coddell said, "I am focusing on the use of underwater, surface, and above-surface unmanned capabilities. We must closely monitor them and develop the right countermeasures to ensure we are not affected by these evolving technologies."

Source: rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1848961050498058/

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