By Alimat Aliyeva

The American nuclear-powered submarine USS Columbia entered the port of Busan on Monday to replenish supplies and allow the crew to rest. The Los Angeles-class submarine's visit is expected to include "friendly exchanges" between the South Korean side and the American crew during their stay, Azernews reports.

This follows a similar visit in September, when the Virginia-class nuclear submarine USS Vermont also docked in Busan for supplies. At that time, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, remarked that the U.S. Navy submarine would not find safety or shelter on the Korean Peninsula, suggesting that American sailors would not be secure in the region.

The presence of U.S. nuclear submarines in South Korea is seen as a signal of the ongoing military cooperation between the two countries, amid rising tensions in the region. This military exchange underscores the strategic importance of South Korea as a key ally in the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.