WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 - This evening, President Obama called President Lee to tell him that the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with our close friend and ally, the Republic of Korea. The President strongly condemned the attack by North Korea on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeoung,...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today condemned the attack by North Korea on the small South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell. "In a phone call this morning, Secretary Gates told [South Korean Defense] Minister Kim...

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) - Training exercise Koa Kai 11-1 concluded Nov. 17, saving the Navy both time and money by keeping participating surface combatants in the middle Pacific area of responsibility instead of training off the coast of San Diego. "There are significant savings associated with ships...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 - The Defense Department affirmed its alliance with South Korea and is closely monitoring the situation on the Korean peninsula in the wake of today’s North Korean artillery attack on South Korea. “We will honor our alliance obligations to the South, and we are...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii - Friends and family boarded the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) for a trip from Pearl Harbor to Maui, Nov. 19. Once onboard Cheyenne, the 21 cruise participants received a warm welcome and began to learn about life aboard the submarine. Shortly after...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2010 - The United States is a Pacific power and will remain committed to security and stability in Asia, Michele Flournoy, the undersecretary of defense for policy, said. Asia is a strategically important area to the United States in terms of economic prosperity and American...

OKINAWA, Japan - The guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) opened its brow to the public Nov. 13-14 and gave guided tours to nearly 2,500 people during the White Beach Festival. Visitors included local leaders, community members, members of Okinawa-based U.S. and Japanese forces and 17...

USS ESSEX, At sea - Sailors and Marines assigned to the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit experienced Hong Kong Nov. 17-19 through a variety of tours offered by the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department. Throughout...

HONG KONG - Sailors from the amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9) and embarked Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) spent a morning painting a building for the non-profit organization Crossroads International. Crossroads International is a Hong Kong based, non-profit...

USS ESSEX, Hong Kong - While many Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit were out experiencing a foreign culture during their port visit, some had the opportunity to interact with Chinese service members of the People’s Liberation Army and other city leaders of Hong Kong...

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) - Surface Navy and other combatant units participated in the Koa Kai 11-1 exercise in waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands Nov. 12-17. Koa Kai is the primary integrated training event for the mid-Pacific surface combatant units with the goal of achieving deployment...

MALE, Maldives - The guided missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) arrived at Male, Maldives Nov. 18, to work with the island nation’s Coast Guard in improving maritime domain awareness within the country’s vast exclusive economic zone (EEZ). "The government of the Maldives asked for our support...

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii- Sailorsfrom submarines attached to Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam chose to use the Great American Smokeout (GASO), Nov. 18, as an incentive to quit smoking altogether. No later than Dec. 31, 2010, all submarines are...

TAMPA, Fla. (NNS)- The Department of Defense awarded Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard the Robert T. Mason award for excellence in DoD depot level maintenance, at the DoD Maintenance Symposium and Exhibition in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 17. The award recognized the shipyard's high-level work performed on...

PHUKET, Thailand (NNS) - USS Peleliu (LHA 5) and the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) visited Phuket, Thailand Nov.13-16. During the port visit Sailors and Marines interacted with the local population and participated in community relations projects to build relationships with the...

BANGOR, Wash. (NNS) - When the ballistic missile submarine USS George Washington (SSBN 598) departed Charleston, S.C., 50 years ago, it marked the beginning of a new era in strategic deterrence. On Nov. 15, 1960, the "Georgefish" – a converted attack submarine – began the U.S. Navy's first SSBN...

HONG KONG- Sailors and embarked Marines from the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) arrived here for a port visit Nov. 16. The ship's approximately 3,000 Sailors and embarked Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will have a chance to enjoy the city's culture as well as host...

USS DUBUQUE, At Sea (NNS) - USS Dubuque (LPD 8) completed its operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) Nov. 6. Deployed to 5th Fleet for nearly four months, Dubuque completed a range of missions including military-to-military training with partner nations, support to humanitarian...

SINGAPORE - Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) ammunition ship USNS Kiska (T-AE 35) will cross the international date line Nov. 18, leaving the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility for the last time as the ship heads to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to begin preparations for deactivation. Kiska has served...

PEARL HARBOR, (NNS) - One of the Navy's newest and most technologically sophisticated Virginia-class submarines, USS North Carolina (SSN 777) arrived at her new homeport, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Monday, Nov. 15, after the completion of a four month inner-fleet transfer from Groton, Conn...