A US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) visited South Korea today, for the first time since the 1980s, as the allies launched talks to coordinate their responses in the event of a nuclear war with North Korea.
 
White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell confirmed the rare visit, which had been expected after it was announced in a joint declaration during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden in Washington in April. Mr Campbell was speaking at a media briefing in Seoul, where he attended the first Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) discussion with South Korean officials.
 
The group, aimed at better coordinating an allied nuclear response in the event of a war with North Korea, was also announced during the April summit amid growing calls in South Korea for its own nuclear weapons.
 
North Korea, which test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile last week, condemned the NCG yesterday for openly discussing the use of nukes and warned against allied plans to increase displays of military force, including the submarine visit.