South Korea, US launch two-week joint air drills to strengthen air defenses

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (YPA) – South Korea and the United States began two-week joint air drills on Monday to strengthen air defense capabilities, operational coordination and wartime readiness.

The exercises, known as Freedom Flag, began at Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, about 180 kilometers southwest of Seoul, involving fighter jets and other military aircraft from both countries, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the South Korean Air Force.

The drills will focus on air defense and interception missions, with round-the-clock planning teams working to refine tactics, improve operational procedures and strengthen interoperability between the two forces.

The exercises will also assess South Korea’s ability to lead the planning and execution of combined military operations, as Seoul seeks to assume wartime operational control of the allies’ combined forces, currently under U.S. command.

Launched in 2024, the twice-yearly Freedom Flag exercises replaced separate large-scale joint air drills previously held in the first and second halves of the year.

@E.Y.M