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| An Apache helicopter prepares for take-off at a firing range in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, in this Feb. 13 photo. / Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is struggling to find a replacement firing range for its Apache helicopters following noise and other complaints from nearby residents.
Defense experts are concerned that the recurring problem may undermine the allies' combat readiness and are urging the government to play a more aggressive role in solving the issue.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, Monday, a live-fire exercise, initially scheduled to take place the same day by the USFK's attack helicopters at a firing range in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, was suspended after the ministry discussed the issue with the U.S. side on Friday.
The suspension came after residents living near the shooting range had complained of noise and other inconveniences due to the firing drills, calling for a stop to the training and the closure of the range. Some 130 people from 50 households live just 1 kilometer from the range in Pohang. In protest, residents have blocked the road to the firing range a number of times with farming vehicles and machines.
The USFK previously held the live-fire drills with the Apaches at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, 24 kilometers from the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), but it began to stage the exercise at the Pohang range in February this year after repeatedly facing noise complaints and safety concerns from Pocheon residents.
While the helicopter exercises are on hold, the military authorities plan to form a consultative group to resolve the complaints and concerns of the residents.
However, should the defense ministry fail to find solutions to ease locals' complaints, which will further prevent the U.S. forces from staging a drill, it may face backlash from the USFK.
Already, USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams has expressed concerns that live-fire drills have been disrupted by the shutdown of firing ranges here, thereby forcing U.S. troops to do live-fire training outside the Korean Peninsula.
"The bottom line is that forces stationed here to maintain the high level of readiness have to have reliable, accessible training areas, specifically for company-level live fire, which is the gold standard for war fighting readiness with aviation," Abrams told participants of a virtual forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in September.
"As a result we're actually having to send air crews off-pen to maintain their live-fire qualifications."
According to Rep. Han Ki-ho of the main opposition People Power Party, the USFK intends to conduct live-fire exercises with the attack helicopters on at least 64 days per year based on an agreement between the two countries, but the Korean military authorities want to assign only 40 days ― 20 days in each 6-month period ― due to local complaints.
"Combat capabilities are boosted by military drills, but residents' complaint-caused training suspension can weaken their defense readiness. In that regard, the government needs more aggressive involvement in the issue," said Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher of the Korea Defense and Security Forum.
The USFK said it holds no official position on the issue.
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