Third US carrier strike group deployed to Pacific

The USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group became the third carrier group operating in the Pacific on Wednesday. The group, which includes Carrier Air Wing 11 and Destroyer Squadron 9, recently wrapped up operations in the Middle East, where it has been attacking Islamic State targets as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

The Nimitz’ sister carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, arrived in the Pacific with its strike group on Monday, and the 7th Fleet’s USS Ronald Reagan Strike Group stopped in Busan, South Korea, Saturday after a week of drills in nearby waters. The Yokosuka, Japan-based carrier’s port call comes at a time of heightened rhetoric between North Korea and Washington over Pyongyang’s missile tests and nuclear weapons program.