South Korea, U.K. and U.S. hold a joint air drills

Record ID: 79704

  • Title: South Korea, U.K. and U.S. hold a joint air drills
  • Date: 8th November 2016
  • Summary: OSAN, SOUTH KOREA (NOVEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ROYAL AIR FORCE (RAF) TYPHOON FIGHTER JETS FLYING IN AIR VARIOUS OF TYPHOON FIGHTER JET FLYING IN AIR SOLDIERS AT OBSERVATION PLATFORM U.S. F-16 FIGHTER JETS LANDING VARIOUS OF F-16 FIGHTER JETS IN AIR SOUTH KOREAN AIR FORCE F-15K FLYING CHIEF OF ROYAL AIR FORCE, AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR, STEPHEN HILLIER (LEFT), SOUTH KOREAN AIR FORCE OPERATIONS COMMAND COMMANDER, LIEUTENANT GENERAL, WON IN-CHOUL (CENTRE), AND U.S. COMMANDER OF 7TH AIR FORCE, LIEUTENANT GENERAL, THOMAS W. BERGESON (RIGHT), WALKING AND STANDING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN AIR FORCE OPERATIONS COMMAND COMMANDER, LIEUTENANT GENERAL, WON IN-CHOUL, SAYING: "Invincible Shield, which is the first ROK-U.S.-UK combined air exercise among the three countries' air forces, is expected not only to enhance combined air operations capability of the three countries, but also to contribute greatly to improve military cooperation with the Royal Air Force." NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHIEF OF ROYAL AIR FORCE, AIR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR, STEPHEN HILLIER, SAYING: "The current exercise, our first together, is a clear demonstration that that relationship endures to this day." SOLDIERS LISTENING (SOUDNBITE) (English) U.S. COMMANDER OF 7TH AIR FORCE, LIEUTENANT GENERAL, THOMAS W. BERGESON, SAYING: "North Korea's provocative actions and threats to regional stability would not be tolerated. Our iron-clad bond with the ROK will not be shaken and it will grow stronger every day. The 7th Air Force is ready to fight tonight and if called upon, we will defeat the enemy." HILLIER (LEFT), WON (CENTRE), AND BERGESON (RIGHT) POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS OF TYPHOON FIGHTER JET LANDING F-15K MOVING SOUTH KOREAN SOLDIERS BOARDING F-15K VARIOUS OF SOLDIER STANDING NEXT TO F-16
  • Embargoed: 23rd November 2016 10:34
  • Keywords: South Korea military joint drill UK US
  • Location: OSAN, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: OSAN, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Defence,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00157L2BLZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: South Korean, U.S. and Britain air forces conducted a joint exercise in Osan on Tuesday (November 8) to deepen security and defence ties.
    The "Invincible Shield" exercise, held from November 4 to 10, will be the first time South Korea hosts a trilateral air exercise with a foreign country other than the United States.
    Four Typhoon interceptors, Voyager Air-to-Air Refuelling, C-17 Globemaster strategic transport aircraft and about 200 air force personnel from UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) were mobilized in the exercise at Osan Air Force Base, about 35 km (21 miles) south of Seoul.
    The U.S. F-16 fighter jet and South Korean Air Force's F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets also participated in the drill, according to RAF.
    The drills come amid heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's two nuclear tests and an unprecedented number of ballistic missile tests.
    "North Korea's provocative actions and threats to regional stability would not be tolerated. Our iron-clad bond with the ROK will not be shaken and it will grow stronger every day. The 7th Air Force is ready to fight tonight and if called upon, we will defeat the enemy," said U.S. Commander of 7th Air Force, Lieutenant General Thomas W. Bergeson.
    Impoverished North Korea and the rich, democratic South are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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