North Korea Holds Massive Live-fire Drill as U.S. Nuclear Sub Approaches

If our nuclear aircraft carriers are excellent at presenting an obvious show of strength, the nuclear sub is excellent at projecting that power from a position of stealth. They are very quiet and are armed with technically advanced conventional and nuclear weapons. It would seem that Kim Jong-un and his reckless threats have merited a visit from both such warships.

What has gotten all this started is “speculation that the North might carry out another nuclear or missile test.”

With a U.S. sub pulling into port in South Korea, the North reacted with a display of force.

News of the live-fire drill came after the USS Michigan, the nuclear-powered powered Ohio class submarine, pulled into the South Korean port of Busan for a hull check.

Whether the “hull check” was the reason for the visit, or just an excuse to put pressure on the North Korean regime we don’t know. But when nuclear subs are dispatched to your area, it’s time to think very carefully about what your next action might be.

It’s not just a submarine that Mr. Kim has to think about. An aircraft carrier is headed his way as well.

The USS Vinson aircraft carrier strike group made it to the Philippine Sea in waters south of Japan, according to senior U.S. defense officials.

When asked about the USS Michigan, Lieutenant commander Matt Knight with U.S. Pacific Fleet told Fox News in a statement the submarine was on “routine deployment.”

“U.S. Navy ships and submarines routinely make port calls in a variety of locations,” Knight said. “As a matter of routine, we do not discuss future operations or the details regarding the operations of our submarines. USS Michigan is currently on a routine deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific.”

It’s often when seen in combination with other events that individual actions start to take on a broader meaning. With that in mind, at the same time as all of these activities are in progress near North Korea, the Senate has been called to a briefing on the situation in the White House.

Meanwhile, the entire U.S. Senate has been invited to the White House for a briefing on Wednesday about the North Korea situation. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer confirmed the upcoming briefing, for all 100 senators.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats plan to provide the update to lawmakers.

It is rare for the entire Senate to be invited to such a briefing.

This has all the appearances of the preparations for war. Or is that just what President Trump wants North Korea to think?

Source: Fox News