First-ever US-ROK Joint F-35 Training... Warning to North Korea of 7th Nuclear Test

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The South Korean and U.S. Air Forces conducted a joint flight training exercise including the F-35A for the first time. It has been 4 years and 7 months since a U.S. F-35A landed at a South Korean ground base to participate in training, last occurring in December 2017, during a period of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's successive missile provocations and its 6th nuclear test. This is seen as an evaluation aimed at sending a strong warning message to North Korea, which has completed preparations for its 7th nuclear test.

According to the Air Force on the 14th, this training was the first joint exercise involving F-35As from both countries since the introduction of the F-35A domestically. It was organized to enhance joint operational capabilities and interoperability of the F-35A. The exercise involved a total of about 30 aircraft, including South Korea’s F-35A, F-15K, KF-16, FA-50, and the U.S. Air Force’s F-35A and F-16.

During the exercise, forces were divided into virtual friendly and enemy units to carry out key air operation missions such as attack formations, defense provision, and emergency air interdiction.

This training was conducted as a follow-up measure to the agreement reached at the May South Korea-U.S. summit to deploy U.S. strategic assets in a timely and coordinated manner. At that time, the two leaders confirmed their commitment to extended deterrence including nuclear, conventional, and missile defense in a joint statement and agreed to begin discussions on expanding the scope and scale of joint exercises. Following subsequent consultations between the South Korean and U.S. military authorities, the F-35A was deployed this time. This is regarded as a signal that various U.S. strategic assets will be deployed in response to North Korean provocations in the future.

Major Kwon Hae-bin (Air Force Academy Class 54), an F-35A pilot of the 152nd Fighter Squadron, 17th Fighter Wing, who served as the mission commander on the South Korean side, said, "This training is an important exercise symbolizing the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance and joint defense posture," adding, "Pilots from both air forces were able to mutually share tactics and operational know-how of fifth-generation fighters through the training."

Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Worrell, an F-35A pilot deployed from Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska for this training, said, "This joint exercise conducted to ensure security in the Korean Peninsula region and strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance is expected to further solidify the combined defense posture of the two countries."