US-South Korea begin live-fire aerial drills, Seoul expresses suspicions related to Pyongyang

On the morning of August 26, South Korea and the United States began a three-day joint live-fire aerial exercise to enhance their ability to respond to threats.

A South Korean F-35A fighter jet fires an AIM-120C air-to-air missile over waters off the country's west coast on August 26. (Source: Yonhap)

Yonhap news agency reported that according to the South Korean Air Force, the exercise took place in the waters off the country's west coast, with the participation of 60 military aircraft, including South Korean F-35A, F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets and US A-10 attack aircraft.

The purpose of the exercise is to test procedures for responding to simultaneous air and ground operations from North Korea, such as cruise missile launches and long-range artillery fire.

During the exercise, F-35A and F-15K aircraft will practice launching missiles to neutralize aerial targets, while US KF-16s and A-10s will drop air-to-ground weapons to destroy hypothetical enemy provocations.

On the first day, the F-35A launched AIM-120C medium-range air-to-air missiles, while the KF-16 dropped GBU-31 bombs capable of penetrating 1 meter thick reinforced concrete.

"We will maintain a readiness posture to immediately respond to any provocations by the enemy," said Major Cha Seung Min, a pilot participating in the exercise.

The exercise runs alongside the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield 2024 exercise, which is scheduled to end on August 29. North Korea has long denounced the joint South Korea-US drills as rehearsals for an invasion.

In another development, on the same day, the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) was skeptical about Pyongyang's ability to supply enough missiles for the 250 new launchers deployed on the front line.

According to the NIS, North Korea has a deal to produce weapons for Russia, which could make it difficult for Pyongyang to equip missiles for the new launchers. Allegations of trade between Russia and North Korea have always been denied by both countries.

In early August, North Korean media reported that President Kim Jong-un attended a handover ceremony for 250 new tactical rocket launchers to frontline units, describing them as "new key strike" weapons.

The NIS estimates the missile's range to be around 110km, capable of hitting Chungcheong province south of Seoul if launched from the front line.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/my-han-bat-dau-tap-tran-ban-dan-that-tren-khong-seoul-bay-to-moi-nghi-lien-quan-binh-nhuong-283946.html