In Busan, U.S. Navy runs rehearsal for ballistic submarine visit

Tom Shugart, a retired submariner and adjunct senior fellow at the think tank Center for a New American Security, told Nikkei, "An SSGN visit could be a bit of a dress rehearsal for the SSBN visit, as the two ships' types are the same basic hull form. It would allow them to verify the berthing facilities and shore services work as intended, [and] help to familiarize the local pilots with handling submarines this large."

"The crew will also learn lessons from the evolution, and can -- and surely will -- pass them on to the SSBN crew that will follow," Shugart added.

Read the full story and more from Nikkei Asia.