 Shaping her course via the Panama Canal , Long Beach , and Hawaii , New Jersey reached Yokosuka 5 April , and next day relieved Missouri as flagship of Vice Admiral Joseph H. Clark , Commander 7th Fleet . On 12 April New Jersey returned to action by shelling Chongjin ; in seven minutes she scored seven direct hits , blowing away half the main communications building there . At Pusan two days later , New Jersey manned her rails to welcome the President of the Republic of Korea and Madame Rhee , and American Ambassador Ellis O. Briggs . 
