A U.S. Navy destroyer will skip out on a week of maritime drills off of the South Korean coast, a Navy spokesman told Stars and Stripes.
The destroyer Dewey was escorted to Jeju Island, South Korea, by two Royal Canadian frigates on Tuesday, but left for maintenance at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, later that evening, according to Stars and Stripes. South Korean naval officials say the Dewey was supposed to stay for five days of maritime drills beginning Friday.
Prior to its departure for Japan, Dewey's commanding officer, Cmdr. Anthony Webber, said that he was honored to be a guest in Jeju and was excited for the training program.
"This visit is important because with each engagement, we improve our cooperation and enhance our combined defensive capabilities," Webber said to Stars and Stripes.
The Navy did not provide any additional details as to what prompted the destroyer to skip the drills, but, according to Stars and Stripes, North Korea has expressed its displeasure about having U.S. Navy ships near the Korean Peninsula. North Korea believes the drills may be an invasion rehearsal, though the U.S. denies these claims.
The Dewey was among the ships that assisted in search-and-rescue efforts following the destroyer Fitzgerald's collision with a commercial vessel Saturday off the Japanese coast.
The destroyer was launched from San Diego earlier this year to help expand the U.S. Pacific Command’s naval operations.
