U.S. and South Korea Flex Military Muscles with Joint Air Drills Amid Putin’s North Korea Visit

Amid Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years to meet with Kim Jong Un, South Korea and the U.S. conducted joint aerial exercises, showcasing their military strength.

The U.S. Special Operations aircraft, previously used in a leadership-targeted operation, was deployed on the Korean peninsula to carry out live-fire exercises, showcasing its operational capabilities.

The ROK Air Force announced on the 30th, “The U.S. Special Operations Command’s AC-130J was deployed on the Korean Peninsula, and from the 17th to the 20th, we conducted joint aerial exercises with the U.S.”

The AC-130J, the latest U.S. Special Operations aircraft, is officially named Ghostrider. This heavily armed aircraft is 96 feet in length, and its main missions are Close Air Support (CAS) over land and sea, air interdiction, and armed reconnaissance. With a maximum takeoff weight of about 176,370 pounds, it can fire thousands of 30mm machine gun rounds and 105mm shells per minute at specific ground targets, effectively making it a bomber.

In March last year, this aircraft participated in the Teak Knife joint special operations training, including the beheading operation, and conducted live-fire exercises.

The Air Force said, “Our military conducted this training, focusing on fulfilling the U.S.’s extended deterrence commitment and strengthening interoperability and joint defense posture. The U.S. AC-130J Special Operations aircraft, which was deployed on the Korean Peninsula for the first time in over a year since last March, conducted CAS training with the Korean Air Force’s F-15K, (K)F-16, FA-50 fighters, and KA-1 airfield control aircraft.”

In particular, they emphasized, “The AC-130J and our Air Force’s (K)F-16 fighters conducted live-fire training together, checking their readiness and ability to respond to any provocation.”

“In the future, both South Korea and the U.S. will continue to conduct regular training and various joint aerial exercises as needed, realizing the alliance’s powerful strength that can achieve any operational goal,” they added.