US Forces Start Training Exercise

U.S. Army and Air Force personnel along with Korea F-16 fighter jets and PAC-3 missiles begin a week-long war exercise today.

The U.S. Forces Korea said yesterday that the exercise includes detaining and defeating North Korea’s airplanes, troops and ground targets depending on various scenarios in case of a sudden provocation.

F-16 fighters, A-10 aircraft and 8,500 forces stationed in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, and Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, will join the exercise.

A U.S. forces source said, “We will assess the general operational capability of the leadership of the U.S. Forces Korea in case of emergency and check the war preparation level to incapacitate North Korea’s provocation from the early stage.”

They will also simulate chemical attacks on U.S. bases in chemical protective gear.

ysh1005@donga.com