South Korea, US begin joint air exercises

Asia-Pacific, News, US November 3, 2021 , by IRIA No Comments

On November 1, South Korea and the United States began joint air exercises, which will last until Friday.

The U.S. and South Korea will conduct the scaled-back exercises called “Combined Flying Training Event” through November 5, 2021, military sources said.

Previously, the bilateral exercise the “Vigilance Ace” mobilized tens of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of fighter planes, bombers, and advanced fighter aircraft. However, since 2017, the U.S. and South Korea conducted scaled-down military drills to facilitate negotiations aimed at ending North Korean nuclear and missile programs in exchange for lifting sanctions.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency said that each side sent about 100 aircraft, including South Korea’s F-15Ks and KF-16s and the U.S. F-16s, however, the U.S. soldiers and equipment from the mainland will not participate in the exercises.

The South Korean Air Force refused to elaborate on these exercises in public, stating allies are conducting joint exercises in a “balanced manner” under the annual plan.

South Korean Air Force official told Yonhap News Agency “We cannot comment on the exercise as it is one that is not disclosed to the media.”

The aerial drills come just a week after South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in reiterated hopes to resume peace talks with North Korea despite growing tensions between the two Koreas. Despite South Korea and the U.S. calls for peace, North Korea launched a ballistic missile in response to the U.S.-ROK joint military exercises earlier in August.

In September 2021, both South and North Korea tested ballistic missiles, while Pyongyang already tested at least eight missiles in 2021. The recent missile test by North Korea had caused tensions in the region, and both the U.S. and South Korean leaders have urged the North Korean regime to resume talks on denuclearization.

On October 29, South Korean President Moon Jae-in met with Pope Francis during the G20 summit in Rome and urged the Pope to visit North Korea to promote peace initiatives. In response, the Pope said that he would be willing to visit North Korea if he was invited by Pyongyang.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean government urged the North Korean administration to make a “positive response” to the proposal, while restating that “Pope Francis’ visit will enhance hope for progress in regional peace efforts”.