The U.S. has dispatched a nuclear-powered submarine for a joint exercise with South Korea, the Navy here said Monday, in a fresh display of force following North Korea’s recent nuclear and missile tests.

The 7,800-ton USS North Carolina joined the three-day drills that wrapped up Monday in the East Sea, aimed at advancing the allies’ combat readiness against the North’s potential maritime provocations. South Korea, for its part, mobilized the Kim Jwa-jin, a 1,800-ton 214-class submarine, for the program.

Commissioned in May 2008, the Virginia-class U.S. attack submarine is armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and MK 48 torpedoes and boasts improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements.

The latest training helped boost the sides’ capabilities to detect, identify, track and attack an enemy submarine through live trace drills and free offensive and defensive battles, the Navy said.

“The exercises were designed to affirm the close cooperation between navies of the two countries in the face of North Korea’s submarine attack threats and strengthen their joint operation capabilities,” the Navy said in a statement. 

Capt. Kang Jun-gu, chief of the Kim Jwa-jin, said, “Our crew were able to boost their actual warfare and combined operation capabilities through the drills. We are fully ready to bury the enemy at sea without noise should it commit a provocation, and launch a surgical strike at its heart upon the order.”

While the program is a regular annual event, the participation of the nuclear-powered submarine was seen as Washington’s latest warning against Pyongyang’s evolving threats.

The North has been developing submarine-launched ballistic missiles by holding several rounds of tests, on top of its Feb. 7 firing of a long-range rocket and Jan. 6 detonation of an atomic bomb. The U.S. flew a nuclear-capable B-52 strategic bomber over the peninsula shortly after the nuclear test last month.

On Wednesday, the two nations’ navies plan to stage a separate drill in the East Sea to further their submarine detection capabilities. The South and the U.S. are scheduled to deploy their P-3 and P-8 patrol planes, respectively.

In another advancement, the U.S. is reportedly expected to send the USS John C. Stennis, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, to take part in the major joint Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises slated for next month.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)