South Korea expresses concern over Japanese delegation’s recent visit to North Korea; US naval Chief visits South Korea; South Korea-US joint naval exercises take off involving the USS Nimitz; South Korea joins the Arctic Council as a permanent observer
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    • According to reports, South Korean government has expressed serious concern over the Japanese delegation’s recent visit to North Korea, as it could undermine the ongoing efforts in forging a coordinated approach among the concerned states in dealing with the North’s belligerency. Many in Seoul seem to argue that by making such a step, Tokyo is trying to mend its ties with Pyongyang in the wake of the former’s heightened territorial disputes with Beijing. 1

    Meanwhile, US Naval Chief Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, on May 16, arrived at South Korea on a two-day long trip. He discussed with his South Korean counterpart Choi Yoon-hee, regarding the bilateral naval cooperation and exchanges with a view to prevent North Korean provocations more adequately in the future. 2

    According to reports, on May 13, South Korea and the US began their joint naval exercises of the east coast. The two-day long exercises involved the nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier-the USS Nimitz. The Strike Group of the Nimitz consists of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), guided missile destroyers as well as cruisers. South Korea’s Aegis-equipped destroyer King Sejong and DDH-II class destroyer Chungmugong Yi Sunshin participated in the exercises. Pyongyang however denounced the arrival of the USS Nimitz while describing it as “an open threat and blackmail against the DPRK (North Korea) , and a grave military provocation to unleash a nuclear war against it at any cost on the Korean Peninsula.” 3

    In other developments, on May 15, South Korea joined the Arctic Council along with India, China, Japan, Italy and Singapore as permanent observer. The Group already has the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain as member states. 4

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