South Korea and the United States demonstrated an air force to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday, flying 20 fighter jets over waters west of the Korean Peninsula in response to recent airlift tests. Pyongyang missiles.
The allies sent jets — South Korean F-35A, F-15K and FK-16, and American F-16s — over the Yellow Sea, known as the Western Sea in South Korea, on Tuesday morning, after the launch of eight short-range ballistic missiles on Sunday (5) by North Korea.
“South Korea and the US have demonstrated their strong skills and will strike quickly and accurately against any North Korean provocation by demonstrating their combined defense capabilities and posture through this joint air force demonstration flight,” the Defense Ministry said. of South Korea on Tuesday.
The flights came amid renewed fears that Pyongyang is on the brink of starting a new nuclear weapons test.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Monday that North Korea may have opened a new entrance to its underground nuclear testing arena.
That report follows a US military and intelligence agency assessment last month that North Korea may be ready to resume its underground nuclear tests at Punggye-ri, based on satellite images showing signs of team activity and vehicles on site.
Punggye-ri, which was the site of all six of North Korea’s nuclear tests to date, was partially dismantled in 2018 as part of a deal between Pyongyang, Washington and Seoul.
North Korea’s nuclear weapons program has been banned by the United Nations, and Pyongyang has not tested any nuclear weapons since 2017.
But this year, the country has repeatedly tested missiles that could possibly carry warheads — including intercontinental ballistic missiles that could hit homeland. Sunday’s launch of eight missiles marked the 17th time this year that the Kim regime has conducted such a test.
South Korea and the United States responded on Monday with eight missile launches, the third time this year that they have conducted tests in direct response to North Korea.
Demonstrations of the South Korean fighter arsenal are not uncommon.
Twice this year, Seoul showed off its fleet of F-35A stealth fighter jets, with dozens of jets lining up on a runway, in what the army calls “elephant walks” — a demonstration of equipment intended to send a message to adversaries. in potential.
Seoul’s tone over North Korean aggression has hardened since the election of new South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who took office on May 10. Yoon has consistently emphasized his desire to strengthen the Southern army — a departure from the ideas of his predecessor Moon Jae-in, who promoted dialogue and peaceful reconciliation.
He vowed to respond “firmly and austerely” to North Korean provocations during a speech on Memorial Day in South Korea on Monday.
Source: CNN Brasil
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