U.S. Battleship New Jersey Shows Up in South Korea in Time for Asian Games

The U.S. Navy surprised the South Korean port city of Inchon, less than an hour from here, by sending a battleship, the New Jersey, there on Friday night, the eve of the Asian Games.

According to a spokesman for the Eighth Army, which is based in Seoul, the New Jersey was the largest battleship ever to enter the port of Inchon, although it could not dock because of the shallow waters there.

The New Jersey had been on a routine exercise in the Sea of Japan before going to Inchon, where it remained until Tuesday.

South Korean and U.S. military officials, including Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger, repeatedly have warned of North Korean attempts to disrupt the Asian Games, a prelude to Seoul’s hosting of the 1988 Summer Olympics.

North Korea is boycotting the Asian Games.

While admitting that the New Jersey’s presence in Inchon was highly unusual, the Eighth Army spokesman said it should not necessarily be related to the opening of the Asian Games.

Asked if it were a coincidence, the spokesman laughed and said: “Yeah, just a coincidence.”