Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

U.S. Carrier Strike Group visits Korea

Participating in Korea-U.S.-Japan search and rescue training on the Jeju sea on July 21 and 22

The United States Forces Korea (USFK) said on July 9 that the U.S. Navy’s forward stationing USS George Washington and a CSG fleet are visiting the Busan operations base from July 11 to 15.

“This is a routine visit to a port of the Korean Peninsula. During the four-day visit, U.S. sailors are having opportunities to interact with Korean sailors and have cultural communication with Korean people. They are also participating in volunteer work for the local residents,” said a USFK official.

Around 6,000 sailors, including fighter wing and relevant ship's servicemen, belong to the Carrier Strike Group, the USS George Washington, which belongs to the U.S. 7th Fleet forward stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.

Meanwhile, the CSG will take part in Korea-U.S.-Japan Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) on the sea south of Jeju on July 21 and 22.

There will be three surface fleets sent including the USS George Washington and an aircraft from the U.S., two fleets and one aircraft from Korea, and one fleet and one aircraft from Japan for this exercise.

Prior to this, it was October last year that the three countries, Korea, the U.S. and Japan, carried out SAREX on the South Sea with the George Washington attending.

By Seok-Jong, Lee < seokjong@dema.mil.kr >

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