‘Deterring’ North Korea: CNN goes on board nuclear-powered U.S. warship

Ivan Watson
By Ivan Watson and K.J. Kwon, CNN
Updated 9:57 PM EDT, Sun March 20, 2016
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Story highlights

CNN gets exclusive access to U.S. aircraft carrier involved in joint military exercises with S. Korea

U.S. commanders say annual exercise serves as powerful deterrent to North Korea

But this has not stopped Pyongyang from flexing military muscles

Aboard the USS John C Stennis CNN  — 

With a deafening roar of jet engines and an explosion of steam, an F-18 Super Hornet catapults off the deck of the aircraft carrier, and veers up into the sky. Seconds later, another fighter jet shoots out down a parallel runway.

The aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis leads a strike group of approximately 8,400 pilots and sailors, three destroyers, a tanker ship as well as dozens of fighter jets, reconnaissance planes and helicopters.

An F/A-18 Super Hornet descends and lands on USS John C. Stennis, Saturday, March 19, 2016. Dozens of fighter jets and other aircraft are on board the carrier. It's leading a strike group of about 8,400 troops for military drills with North Korea.
An F/A-18 Super Hornet descends and lands on USS John C. Stennis, Saturday, March 19, 2016. Dozens of fighter jets and other aircraft are on board the carrier. It's leading a strike group of about 8,400 troops for military drills with North Korea.
K.J. Kwon/CNN
The carrier arrived in the region in mid-March to participate in joint annual exercises between the U.S. and South Korea amid tension in the Korean peninsula.
The carrier arrived in the region in mid-March to participate in joint annual exercises between the U.S. and South Korea amid tension in the Korean peninsula.
K.J. Kwon/CNN
North Korea sees the 8-week annual joint drill, Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, as a threat, claiming it's preparation for an invasion of the country by South Korean and U.S. forces.
North Korea sees the 8-week annual joint drill, Key Resolve and Foal Eagle, as a threat, claiming it's preparation for an invasion of the country by South Korean and U.S. forces.
K.J. Kwon/CNN
On Monday, March 21, North Korea fired five short-range projectiles into the sea off the country's east coast. It follows the strengthening of sanctions against the country after it claimed to have tested a hydrogen bomb earlier this year.
On Monday, March 21, North Korea fired five short-range projectiles into the sea off the country's east coast. It follows the strengthening of sanctions against the country after it claimed to have tested a hydrogen bomb earlier this year.
K.J. Kwon/CNN
Aboard a nuclear-powered U.S. carrier, USS Stennis

At a time of