The American aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived at the port of Busan in South Korea as part of preparations for a joint military exercise between the two countries aimed at demonstrating their strength in the face of growing threats from North Korea.

The exercise will be the first involving a US aircraft carrier in the region since 2017, when the United States sent 3 aircraft carriers, including USS Ronald Reagan, to conduct naval exercises with South Korea in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests.

“The deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to Busan demonstrates the strength of the alliance between South Korea and the United States,” a South Korean defense ministry spokesman told AFP, adding that the purpose of the visit is “to deter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.”

This year, Seoul and Washington have resumed their extensive military exercises, which have been reduced in size or frozen in recent years to shore up diplomatic avenues with Pyongyang or due to the Corona virus, after North Korea resumed massive military testing and the threat of an escalated nuclear conflict. with South Korea and the United States, according to the Associated Press.

The South Korean Navy said the joint exercise with the U.S. carrier battle group is aimed at boosting the combat readiness of the two allies and demonstrating the “strong determination of the Korean-American alliance for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”