City
Epaper

US, S.Korea to skip joint annual air drill

By IANS | Updated: November 3, 2019 11:10 IST

South Korea and the US were expected to skip a joint winter-time air exercise just as they did last year to support ongoing diplomacy for the denuclearization of North Korea, a source said on Sunday.

Open in App

Military authorities of the two countries "shared the understanding" on the postponement of the Vigilant Ace air exercise that usually takes place around December, Yonhap News Agency quoted the source as saying, adding that a final decision would be made when the two countries hold annual defense ministers talks later this month.

"Instead, the two sides are considering conducting their own air drills in December," he added.

Seoul and Washington have cancelled several combined exercises since last year amid peace efforts involving North Korea to avoid provoking Pyongyang with maneuvers it has condemned as a rehearsal for a war of invasion.

Launched in 2015 under the name of Pen-ORE (Peninsula Operational Readiness Exercise), Vigilant Ace drill was held annually until 2017 by mobilizing a large fleet of aircraft from the allies.

During the 2017 exercise, the allies mobilized around 270 aircraft, including radar-evading fighter jets such as F-22s, F-35As and F-35Bs in a show of force against North Korea, which had launched a series of nuclear and missile provocations.

"The suspension of the exercise will be one of the items defence ministers from the two countries will discuss during their planned meeting in mid-November," another source added.

Efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula have been underway, though negotiations between the US and North Korea on the latter's nuclear weapons programme have not made much progress for months.

( With inputs from IANS )

Open in App

Related Stories

EntertainmentDhurandhar 2 Worldwide Box Office Collection Day 19: Ranveer Singh’s Film Crosses Rs 1,625 Crore Globally; Check Day-Wise Earnings Report

InternationalIran's "critical oil hub" Kharg Island comes under attack as US deadline looms

BusinessBusiness Analytics Conclave 2.0 Highlights AI-Driven Future at Manipal University Jaipur

BusinessWorld Health Day 2026: Expert Insights on Building Healthy Foundations for a Brighter Tomorrow

National"Heartiest congratulations to our scientists and engineers": YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on 50 MWe Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor milestone"

International Realted Stories

InternationalEmbassy in Iran so far facilitated movement of 1862 Indian nationals: MEA

InternationalNepal follows India, cuts taxes on petroleum products to ease consumer burden

InternationalIsrael: Video claims damage after Iranian missile strike in Ramat Hasharon

InternationalThree suspects shot dead as gunfire erupts near Israeli consulate in Istanbul

InternationalPakistan: Afghan transgender woman killed in Peshawar over friendship refusal