USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) is the first in 42 years American nuclear-powered submarine, which can carry Trident II (D5) nuclear missiles, to arrive in the Republic of Korea

The White House has officially confirmed that for the first time since 1981, a nuclear-powered submarine of the US Navy that can be equipped with nuclear weapons has arrived in the Republic of Korea. It was later revealed which Ohio-class submarine made the historic visit.

Here's What We Know

Kurt Campbell, a spokesman for US President Joe Biden's administration, did not specify which submarine visited the Korean peninsula. But the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Korea did.

As it became known, the first nuclear-capable submarine to visit the Republic of Korea in 42 years was the USS Kentucky. The strategic missile cruiser of the US Navy has the shipboard number SSBN-737.

USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) is one of 18 Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarines. Along with 13 other cruisers, she is a carrier of Trident II (D5) intercontinental ballistic missiles, each with up to eight nuclear warheads. Neither Korean nor U.S. authorities have said, whether there were nuclear weapons on board.

The submarine is 170 metres long and has a displacement of approximately 19,000 tonnes. It has an S8G PWR nuclear reactor installed inside. The submarine can reach speeds of up to 46 kilometres per hour. In addition to Trident II (D5) missiles with a maximum launch range of over 12,000 kilometres, the USS Kentucky (SSBN-737) carries MK-48 torpedoes.

Source: Reuters