An F-16 aircraft of the U.S. 7th Air Force (below) flies away after receiving fuel from the KC-135 refill tanker (above) from the 909th Air refilling squadron from Kadena airbase in Japan. The mid-air refueling took place on the second day of the massive joint South Korea-U.S. exercise being held as a deterrent toward North Korea. / Joint Press Corps |
By Joint Press Corps & Jung Sung-ki
Staff reporter
OSAN, EAST SEA ― The naval and air readiness exercise being staged by the South Korean and U.S. militaries moved into high gear Monday, as the allied forces conducted unprecedented simultaneous drills in the eastern waters of the Korean Peninsula by employing advanced maritime and air assets.
Standing in front of two F-22 stealth fighters, which were first deployed to the peninsula for a training exercise, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Remington, commander of the U.S. 7th Air Force here, reiterated that the ongoing exercise is intended to send a “message” against a North Korean provocation.
The four-day exercise, dubbed “Invincible Spirit,” started Sunday with the involvement of 8,000 personnel, 200 aircraft and 20 vessels from the allied forces. The F-22 Raptor, considered as the world’s most advanced combat aircraft, arrived in South Korea last week for the first time in a show of strong South Korea-U.S. deterrence capability.
“The F-22 Raptor came to us because it is here in the Pacific region right now at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, on what we call the theater security package to demonstrate to our alliance partners both Korea and Japan and all of North East Asia, our commitment to peace and stability in this region of the world,” Remington said.
In his opening speech, Remington, who serves as deputy commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said, “The training will increase operational interoperateability and capabilities and demonstrate the United States’ resolve and support to the Republic of Korea and regional partners.”
“Invincible Spirit,” is defensive in nature, and designed to deter further provocations from North Korea, he added, apparently referring to the North’s alleged attack on one of South Korea’s warships in the West Sea in March.
“Our message is that we are here to deter aggression should North Korea determine that they want to continue down this path,” he added.
Later in the day, Remington’s air component conducted an air-to-air refueling training exercise over the seas near Ulleung Island. It was the first time that such an exercise had been made public here.
The exercise involved a KC-135 refueling tanker, from the 909 Air Refueling Squadron of the 18th Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan, and four F-16 aircraft of the U.S. 7th Air Force.
“Actually I’m little bit excited, you know, because we’re here to show that we’re working with our neighbors,” MSgt. Julian Joseph, a boom operator of the refueling tanker, said.
The U.S. and South Korean naval component also intensified their training scenarios.
On the USS George Washington’s flight deck, about 30 fighter jets, including F/A-18 aircraft, were flying sorties a number of times.
“With these extraordinary capabilities, we are working together to deter and defeat any further North Korean provocations,” said Rear Adm. Dan Cloyd, commander of the George Washington carrier strike group.
Gen. Han Min-koo, South Korea's chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), visited the carrier and observed the drills.
South Korean officials said Monday's naval exercises were centered on anti-submarine warfare operations.
"Today's exercises focus on better detecting intrusions by an enemy's submarines and attacking them," Col. Lee Bung-woo, a spokesman for the JCS, told reporters earlier in the day.
North Korea continued its threats against the drills. Its communist party newspaper Rodong Sinmun said Monday that South Korea and the U.S. "will have to pay a dear price if they persist in the criminal act" of holding the drills.
The North denied its responsibility for the attack and denounced the allegation as "sheer fabrication."
South Korea deployed its 14,000-ton Dokdo amphibious landing ship, 4,500-ton KDX-II-class destroyers, the 1,800-ton Son Won-il-class submarine and F-15K fighter jets for the drills.
This week's exercises are the first in a series of joint military drills by South Korea and the U.S. off the Korean Peninsula in the coming months.
연합훈련 이틀째 대북 억제력 과시
한미 양국은 연합훈련 이틀째인 월요일에 동해에서 F-22 전투기 (랩터)가 편대비행으로 한반도에서 처음으로 임무비행을 했다.
제프리 A. 레밍턴 미국 7공군사령관은 26일 경기도 오산 공군기지에서 가진 기자간담회를 통해 "F-22가 이번 훈련에 처음 참가한 것은 한반도와 동북아지역 안정에 대한 미국의 관심이 지대하다는 것을 반증하는 것"이라고 밝혔다.
레밍턴은 "이번 훈련을 통해 한반도 방위에 대한 미국의 공약은 확고하며 한반도의 안정을 위협하는 어떠한 도발에 대해서도 격퇴할 만한 충분한 준비가 되어 있음을 보여줄 것"이라고 강조했다.
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경찰, 이태원 등 외국인 밀집지역 특별관리
