Seoul, November 16 (QNA) - The US chief of naval operations has said it will be a "natural expectation" if Washington anticipates that the South Korean Navy utilizes a nuclear-powered submarine, when built, to help counter Chinese threats.
Adm. Daryl Caudle made the remarks as the United States officially approved South Korea's push to acquire what would be its first nuclear-powered submarine, South Korean News Agency (Yonhap) reported.
"Utilization of that submarine to counter China, I think is a natural expectation," Caudle told reporters.
"With that type of capability, I think with United States would expect that partnership, again, working as an alliance together, to meet our combined goals on what United States considers to be our pacing threat, which is China. I think to a large extent, Korea shares concerns with China as well, and so that capability should be part of that equation."
Washington has been pushing allies to increase their defense spending and contribute to "collective defense" as it seeks to strengthen cooperation with allies amid an intensifying Sino-US rivalry.
Given the strategic value of a nuclear-powered submarine, which he said "brings a whole different level of capability for deterrence," the top US naval officer said operating such a vessel will likely put more responsibility on the South Korean Navy, not only regionally but on a global level.
"We see this type of activity around the globe, and we are very concerned about it. That's why our partnership with Korea is so important. There has to be a strong deterrence mechanism, or that type of activity between our two countries," he said.
When asked about North Korea's move to build up its naval capabilities, Caudle noted while the North is not a naval threat for the US, keen monitoring is necessary to fend off its activities considered as threats to South Korea, and mentioned underwater drone technology as one area that requires countermeasures.
"I am concerned with the use of unmanned capabilities under the sea, on the sea and above the sea. It is something we have to watch very closely and build the correct countermeasures to make sure we're not impacted by those evolving technologies," he said. (QNA)