The Pacific is agitated. Three US aircraft carriers in front of the coast of Korea. Japan is siding

(To Giampiero Venturi)
19/04/17

According to South Korean sources close to the Seoul government (Yonhap agency), already at the end of April three American aircraft carriers with their attack groups will cross the water triangle between the Korean peninsula and the archipelago of the Rising Sun in the Sea of ​​Japan.

Despite the apparent cooling of the crisis due to the Chinese intervention in Pyongyang, preparations for a possible military escalation continue.

In addition to Vinson already destined to reach the crisis area, the indicated aircraft carriers are the Nimitz , Reagan, respectively the oldest and the penultimate of the units of this class entered into service in the US Navy. The Nimitz it will come from the San Diego base in California; there Reagan, which is completing maintenance work, will come from Yokosuka, Japanese stronghold of 7a Fleet and only port outside the US fixed site of an aircraft carrier.

In view of the naval units available to each attack group, the US military apparatus before the Korean peninsula becomes particularly aggressive.

Despite the fact that for the moment the crisis has emerged from the front pages of the newspapers, a viaduct of military means such as the current one in the Far East was not seen for decades.

The 12 April Russian missile cruiser Varyag entered the south-royal port of Busan (opposite geographic end of Seoul) for a courtesy visit. The Russian presence is not accidental: the Pacific Fleet flagship beat US naval units, especially the Vinson, initially intended for Australia, but immediately diverted to the two Koreas. Never before has the presence of naval units in the region had a geopolitical value. With the arrival of Varyag, Moscow reminds everyone of being there and that good neighborly relations with Seoul (and now also with Tokyo), can have an indirect weight in the upcoming actions of Pyongyang. 

Just Japan in the meantime evaluates the possibility of classifying as a "first level of alarm" a possible further North Korean missile launch within its territorial waters. Tokyo considers several 3 warning for national defense: the highest corresponds to an effective attack on Japanese soil and allows the mobilization of the jieitai, the Self-Defense Forces.

Japan, entangled by the 70 years of a pacifist constitution, shows its muscles for the first time since the end of the Second World War. The "Narashino" Paratrooper Brigade, part of the rapid intervention forces disengaged from the territorial division with which the Japanese ground forces are organized, is in a state of alert.

The general noise of guns comes as South Korea goes through one of its toughest institutional crises ever. Seoul, following the political scandal that overwhelmed President Park, has in fact been without a guide for about a month and is awaiting the presidential elections on 9 May.

The outcome of the elections will mark a fundamental stage for the balance of the area. The anti-missile system THAAD (Kinetic Kill of the High Altitude Area Defense Terminal) wanted by Washington was at the center of a fierce polemic between China and South Korea, because Beijing considers it an American interference and an attack on its own security. If the candidate of the left Moon wins, contrary to the deployment of the defense system, in all likelihood North Korea, influenced by China, will lower the tone. A possible confirmation of the installation of the anti-missile system could on the contrary be considered by Pyongyang as a threat.

In the coming days, joint naval maneuvers are planned between the South Korean navies and the US Navy.

While waiting for the attention of the media to return, the tension in the Pacific remains very high.

(photo: US Navy, ВМФ, 自衛隊)