North Korea's 150 Fighter Jets Simultaneously Launch on the 8th in a Show of Force... Our Military Responds with F-35A

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It was revealed belatedly that North Korea mobilized 150 fighter jets on the 8th to conduct an aerial show of force.

According to the military on the 10th, North Korea conducted a large-scale comprehensive air attack exercise by mobilizing 150 fighter jets on the 8th. During this process, our military scrambled F-35A stealth fighters. This is the first time since the completion of the deployment of 40 F-35As in January this year that the scramble response to North Korea's show of force has been disclosed.

On the same day, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "Against the backdrop of the joint naval maritime combined maneuver exercises, including the US Navy aircraft carrier re-entering the East Sea of Korea, the Korean People's Army Air Force conducted a large-scale comprehensive air attack exercise by simultaneously scrambling about 150 various fighter jets for the first time in history."

At that time, North Korea conducted the show of force by flying southward without crossing the 'special surveillance line' set north of the tactical action line established by our military, and our Air Force responded with counter flights and emergency standby forces.

The military authorities explained that they did not disclose the flight of 150 North Korean fighter jets because, unlike the flight on the 6th, it took place north of the special surveillance line.

Additionally, North Korea conducted a test launch of a 'new aerial weapon system' on the same day. The military believes this launch was in response to the joint air-to-ground precision bombing training using Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) carried out by South Korea's F-15K during the combined attack formation flight conducted by South Korea and the US on the 5th.

North Korea also conducted artillery fire training by mobilizing long-range artillery units in the eastern front area. Our military has identified that North Korea used conventional multiple rocket launchers rather than ballistic missiles.