US and ROK Navies Tighten Bonds

Sailors from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mustin (DDG 89) and USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) plan on strengthening partnerships with the Republic of Korea navy during a port visit to Busan, Jan 29 – Feb 2.

During the port visit, crew members plan to conduct warfighting skills engagements and exchanges with their ROK Navy counterparts and visit local sites in the Busan community.

The ships just concluded a series of bilateral training exercises with the ROK navy in international waters east and west of the Korean peninsula. The exercises covered a full spectrum of scenarios including antisubmarine warfare training, communication drills, ship maneuvers, and naval liaison officer exchanges.

Mustin and John S. McCain are forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet, which maintains an enduring presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. As multi-mission platforms, the ships can carry out independent operations or operate in conjunction with a carrier strike group or other partner navies to conduct maritime security and stability operations across the region.