As North Korea prepares for its seventh nuclear test, the U.S. Air Force's stealth fighter F-35A has appeared on the Korean Peninsula for the first time in about five years.
The Ministry of National Defense announced today (5th) that six fifth-generation F-35A fighters belonging to the US Air Force Base in Alaska have been deployed to the Korean Peninsula.
The U.S. Air Force F-35A fighter is scheduled to conduct joint training with the Korean Air Force until the 14th.
As the Korean Air Force F-35A also participates in the training, the first F-35A combined exercise of the ROK and US Air Forces will be held.
The Ministry of National Defense explained, "This deployment is to demonstrate the strong deterrence and combined defense posture of the ROK-U.S. alliance, while improving interoperability between the ROK and US air forces."
It is the first time in 4 years and 7 months since December 2017 that the US Air Force F-35A has been publicly deployed to the Korean Peninsula.
At that time, tensions on the Korean Peninsula were heightened after North Korea's successive missile provocations and the sixth nuclear test. In addition to the US Air Force's F-35A, F-22 Raptor and long-range bomber B-1B were also deployed to conduct the ROK-U.S. joint air exercise 'Vigilant Ace'. carried out.
(Photo = Yonhap News)