U.S. Deploying Ships, Planes to Waters Off Korea

The U.S. is sending naval ships and planes to the waters off Korea to monitor events following a deadly exchange between the North and South, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Pentagon spokesman Capt. Mike Doubleday said that the cruiser Vincennes, now in waters off Japan, will be deployed with another ship, which he did not name.

A number of EA-6B Prowler surveillance and electronic warfare planes will be added to existing air patrols, although Doubleday stressed that tensions had eased since Tuesday’s naval confrontation in which a North Korean torpedo boat was sunk and six other craft were damaged, one severely. An estimated 30 sailors were killed in the gun battle.

He said the moves are “a way of demonstrating to our allies, the Republic of [South} Korea, that we are there to support them,” he said.

The aircraft carrier Constellation leaves San Diego for the region Friday and will take at least 10 days to arrive, but Doubleday said it was a previously planned deployment.