SEOUL, South Korea: A U.S. aircraft carrier reached South Korea over the weekend, shortly after North Korea test-fired cruise missiles to show its ability to strike back.
The USS Carl Vinson and its strike group arrived in Busan to strengthen the U.S.-South Korean military alliance against North Korean threats, according to the South Korean navy. This is the first visit by a U.S. aircraft carrier since June.
North Korea sees these U.S. deployments as serious threats and has often responded with missile tests. It recently launched cruise missiles to demonstrate its military strength, with leader Kim Jong Un saying the country must be ready to use nuclear weapons.
Since taking office on January 20, President Donald Trump has said he wants to restart talks with Kim. However, North Korea has not responded and instead claims U.S. hostility has increased. Experts believe Kim is more focused on supporting Russia's war in Ukraine and is unlikely to engage in diplomacy with Trump for now.
Kim and Trump met three times in 2018 and 2019 to discuss North Korea's nuclear program, but talks broke down due to disagreements over U.S. sanctions.
