The US military brass are definitely making their rounds through South Korea due to the ongoing tensions:
In this photo taken by the EPA on April 27, 2017, Adm. Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, testifies at the Senate Armed Forces Committee in Washington, D.C. (Yonhap)
The chief of the United States armed forces responsible for the Indo-Asia-Pacific region will visit South Korea to discuss various security issues surrounding the area, a Japanese newspaper reported Saturday.
Japan’s Asahi Shimbun said Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, will stay in South Korea from Sunday to Tuesday, and will meet with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Jeong Kyeong-doo.
Harris is also expected to inspect a joint South Korea-U.S. military drill called the Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise that starts Monday and visit the southern port city of Busan, according to the newspaper. Ashai Shimbun added that Harris is also expected to request South Korea to fully complete the deployment of a U.S. missile shield called THAAD.
Harris’ visit is followed by Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had a two-day visit to South Korea earlier this week.
The newspaper also reported that U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), who is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee will also visit Seoul and ask the South Korean officials to take stricter measures against North Korea.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Kyodo News Agency reported that Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, will also visit South Korea and Japan later this month to discuss North Korea’s nuclear threats. [Yonhap]
A second Aegis destroyer has been involved in an at-sea collision in narrow, but often traversed seas.
I’ve been through the Straits several times, as well as the approach to Yokosuka. All vessels know their lanes, and radar, lookouts, and normal seamanship avoids this sort of thing.
I’m still waiting for the Fitzgerald investigation to be completed, but having spent most of my first 8 years in the Navy as a fleet sailor, I’m not seeing how two ships could be involved in collisions less than 3 months apart. Anytime one ship is involved in something like this, a Safety Stand down happens for the rest of the Fleet.
I know the John McCain is assigned to the Pacific area, and would be one of the Shops to respond to any problems with the DPRK. Seems like a second “lucky break” for the North Koreans…
Once is happenstance.
Twice might be bad luck.
Three times, it’s enemy action.
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=102034
A second Aegis destroyer has been involved in an at-sea collision in narrow, but often traversed seas.
I’ve been through the Straits several times, as well as the approach to Yokosuka. All vessels know their lanes, and radar, lookouts, and normal seamanship avoids this sort of thing.
I’m still waiting for the Fitzgerald investigation to be completed, but having spent most of my first 8 years in the Navy as a fleet sailor, I’m not seeing how two ships could be involved in collisions less than 3 months apart. Anytime one ship is involved in something like this, a Safety Stand down happens for the rest of the Fleet.
I know the John McCain is assigned to the Pacific area, and would be one of the Shops to respond to any problems with the DPRK. Seems like a second “lucky break” for the North Koreans…
Things that make you go Hmm…