South Korea, US, and Japan Conduct Joint Air Combat Exercise for First Time Under President Lee Jaemyung Administration

South Korean F-15K, U.S. F-16, and Japanese F-2 Fighter Jets Participate

South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted a joint air combat exercise on June 18. This marks the first time the three countries have held a joint drill since President Lee Jaemyung took office.

The Air Force announced that the trilateral air combat exercise took place earlier that day over international waters south of Jeju. The exercise involved two South Korean F-15K fighter jets, six U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets, and two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 fighter jets.

This exercise was conducted to strengthen trilateral security cooperation in order to deter North Korea's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and missile threats, and to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. The Air Force stated, "Going forward, the Air Force will continue to conduct South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral exercises based on the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance."