US carrier Nimitz docks in S. Korea for 'manoeuvres'
The Nimitz Strike Group includes 64 aircraft as well as cruisers and destroyers, said the group's commander, Rear Admiral Mike White, after the aircraft carrier anchored off the southern port of Busan.
A US naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz arrived off South Korea yesterday for drills, following joint exercises that infuriated North Korea.
The Nimitz Strike Group includes 64 aircraft as well as cruisers and destroyers, said the group's commander, Rear Admiral Mike White, after the aircraft carrier anchored off the southern port of Busan.
"I believe it's critically important that we maintain our inter-operability with our partners like the Republic of Korea (South Korea)", White said.
He said the USS Nimitz was "on a scheduled deployment" to the Asian region. "Any time we're in the region, we try to take advantage of opportunities to train with our partners," he said.
"So this is not a response to any particular event, but part of our continuous engagement, much like we shared for 60 years".
The 97,000-ton Nimitz, one of the world's largest warships, will participate in joint search-and-rescue operations as well as "sea manoeuvring" around the Korean Peninsula, the South's defence ministry said.