Military to conduct aerial defense exercise over Seoul

The military will conduct a large-scale aerial defense exercise Wednesday across the country to bolster its capabilities to handle enemy infiltrations, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday.

The biannual exercise will take place between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. South Korean troops will practice intercepting enemy aircraft infiltrating South Korean airspace, officials said.

For the drills, the military will mobilize a series of aircraft including F-15K fighter jets and UH-1H helicopters.

The JCS called for citizens’ understanding as the aircraft will fly over Seoul and its surrounding areas and cause loud noise.

The exercise comes as tensions between the two Koreas remain high in the wake of the two attacks last year that killed 50 South Koreans.

Seoul has been striving to enhance its air defense capabilities with a plan to purchase a high-end fleet of stealth fighter jets.

Such top-of-the-line aerial assets are seen as crucial in countering North Korea’s asymmetrical threats and keeping pace with neighboring countries seeking to secure their own radar-evading combat aircraft.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)