Did Japanese fighter jets really participate in a military drill in Korean territory? Or were they only escorts outside Korean territory?
By Rachel Lee
U.S. President Donald Trump will be on a tight schedule during his two-day state visit to South Korea, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.
Trump will arrive on Nov. 7 and then visit the U.S. Army garrison at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, according to National Security Office official Nam Gwan-pyo.
It will be the first visit of a U.S. president to the headquarters of the Eighth U.S. Army which relocated there in July. Trump will have lunch with South Korean and U.S. armed service members, and attend the joint forces' briefing of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.
In the afternoon, Trump and President Moon Jae-in will hold a one-on-one summit followed by an expanded meeting. The two leaders will also hold a joint press conference after their meeting.
After the press event, Moon will host a state banquet with the presidents' wives and key government officials and representatives from the two countries. The presidential office said it is planning to prepare a concert comprising traditional music and K-pop during the dinner.
On the second day, the U.S. president will meet with U.S. Embassy staff and families. After, he will visit the National Assembly, where he will meet with Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun and give a speech.
Nam said a speech at the South Korean parliament by a U.S. president, who is visiting the country for the first time in 25 years, is considered significant.
"Not just a leader of an ally that shares values of freedom and democracy communicating with our people at the National Assembly is important, but it will also be an opportunity for President Trump to present U.S. policy vision for the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia," the second deputy director said.
Trump's final destination will be the Seoul National Cemetery before leaving for China, his fourth destination on his two-week Asia trip.
His schedule does not include a visit to the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides North and South Korea.
"The third Korea-U.S. summit since President Moon took office is expected to discuss in depth ways to deal with North Korea's nuclear issue, secure peace and stability in Northeast Asia and strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance," Nam said.
Ahead of Trump's visit next week, U.S. B-1B Lancer bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula, Thursday.
South Korea's military said Friday the U.S. bombers conducted air-to-ground bombing exercises over the Pilseung firing range in Gangwon Province with South Korean KF-16 fighter jets escorting.
"B-1B bombers are dispatched once or twice a month," a military source said.
The move was seen as part of efforts to expand the rotation of U.S. strategic assets deployed to control North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the source added.
The U.S. Air Force also announced the two bombers conducted the drills with South Korean fighters as well as Japanese fighters. It said the mission was planned in advance and was not designed in response to any current event.
North Korea slammed the move, which it said went on from October and continued this month. State-run Korean Central News Agency said the U.S. once again launched a sudden drill that targeted North Korea with B-1B bombers.
By Rachel Lee
U.S. President Donald Trump will be on a tight schedule during his two-day state visit to South Korea, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.
Trump will arrive on Nov. 7 and then visit the U.S. Army garrison at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, according to National Security Office official Nam Gwan-pyo.
It will be the first visit of a U.S. president to the headquarters of the Eighth U.S. Army which relocated there in July. Trump will have lunch with South Korean and U.S. armed service members, and attend the joint forces' briefing of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula.
In the afternoon, Trump and President Moon Jae-in will hold a one-on-one summit followed by an expanded meeting. The two leaders will also hold a joint press conference after their meeting.
After the press event, Moon will host a state banquet with the presidents' wives and key government officials and representatives from the two countries. The presidential office said it is planning to prepare a concert comprising traditional music and K-pop during the dinner.
On the second day, the U.S. president will meet with U.S. Embassy staff and families. After, he will visit the National Assembly, where he will meet with Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun and give a speech.
Nam said a speech at the South Korean parliament by a U.S. president, who is visiting the country for the first time in 25 years, is considered significant.
"Not just a leader of an ally that shares values of freedom and democracy communicating with our people at the National Assembly is important, but it will also be an opportunity for President Trump to present U.S. policy vision for the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia," the second deputy director said.
Trump's final destination will be the Seoul National Cemetery before leaving for China, his fourth destination on his two-week Asia trip.
His schedule does not include a visit to the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides North and South Korea.
"The third Korea-U.S. summit since President Moon took office is expected to discuss in depth ways to deal with North Korea's nuclear issue, secure peace and stability in Northeast Asia and strengthen the Korea-U.S. alliance," Nam said.
Ahead of Trump's visit next week, U.S. B-1B Lancer bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula, Thursday.
South Korea's military said Friday the U.S. bombers conducted air-to-ground bombing exercises over the Pilseung firing range in Gangwon Province with South Korean KF-16 fighter jets escorting.
"B-1B bombers are dispatched once or twice a month," a military source said.
The move was seen as part of efforts to expand the rotation of U.S. strategic assets deployed to control North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, the source added.
The U.S. Air Force also announced the two bombers conducted the drills with South Korean fighters as well as Japanese fighters. It said the mission was planned in advance and was not designed in response to any current event.
North Korea slammed the move, which it said went on from October and continued this month. State-run Korean Central News Agency said the U.S. once again launched a sudden drill that targeted North Korea with B-1B bombers.
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