US may deploy Zumwalt stealth destroyer here

By Jun Ji-hye

The commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Scott Swift, said Tuesday that deploying an advanced USS Zumwalt-class stealth destroyer to South Korea was a possible option in the future to counter threats from North Korea.

Adm. Scott Swift

However, he cautiously noted there remain some important questions to resolve before the U.S. Navy makes a decision on this, saying the latest stealth destroyer has not been deployed yet.

Adm. Swift said defense officials still need to develop tactics in operating the destroyer and procedures of how the ship would operate independently or collectively, and with either expeditionary strike or carrier strike groups.

“These are all questions we don’t have any answers to yet,” he said in an interview with a group of reporters in Seoul.

The comments came amid growing speculation here over the possible deployment of the stealth destroyer to South Korea’s Jeju Island. Adm. Harry Harris, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, mentioned this during a meeting with South Korean lawmakers in Hawaii last January, according to Justice Party lawmaker Kim Jong-dae, who was present.

At the time, the Ministry of National Defense said there has been no official offer in regard to the deployment, but it would give it serious consideration if the U.S. officially makes such a suggestion.

Adm. Swift said the ship still needs to go through the outfitting process including the placement and testing of weapon systems, stressing that it was premature to discuss future plans.

But when asked whether it can be an option, he said, “Anything is possible.”

The commander noted that the core of the comments made by Adm. Harris was continuing the commitment to make sure that the most modern and highest technology platforms ― aircraft, submarines and ships ― are forward deployed as part of U.S. naval forces.

As for the threats from North Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles, he said, “I think it is still years away before that technology is developed.”

“(Traditional) ballistic missile technology is very difficult to develop. To launch those missiles from under the water is very, very complicated,” he said.

He added that it is more important to focus on general ballistic missile capability that North Korea is developing, saying one of the greats concerns is miniaturization of its nuclear warheads, which would allow them to be weaponized and mated with a ballistic missile.

Adm. Swift arrived in Seoul, Monday, for a three-day trip to attend the annual Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) that kicked off Saturday for a five-day run. The international forum, largely focused on the Marine Corps, is taking place in Seoul, Pohang and Ganghwa where local Marine units are stationed.

The commander delivered a keynote speech during the forum that was attended by 200 military leaders from 24 countries.

Upon his arrival, Adm. Swift held talks with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo, during which he said the U.S. Pacific Fleet will play a pivotal role in fulfilling Washington’s pledge on the ironclad alliance between the two countries amid growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

Adm. Swift assumed command of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in May of 2015, becoming the 35th commander since the fleet was established in February 1941 with headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The admiral will leave for Japan Wednesday.