On the 18th, the South Korean and U.S. Air Forces, along with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, conducted a joint air exercise. This is the first joint exercise since the government of Lee Jae-myung was established.
The Air Force announced that the joint aerial training involving South Korean, U.S., and Japanese fighter jets took place in the waters south of Jeju Island on the morning of the same day. The exercise included two South Korean F-15K fighter jets, six U.S. F-16 fighter jets, and two Japanese F-2 aircraft.
According to the Air Force, this exercise was conducted to strengthen trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to deter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats and to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.
An Air Force official noted, “We plan to continue joint exercises among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan based on a solid South Korea-U.S. alliance.”