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Korea Herald
21-04-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Pilot mistook jettison button for heating in KA-1 incident: Air Force
A South Korean Air Force pilot mistakenly pressed the emergency jettison button while attempting to adjust the heating in a KA-1 light attack aircraft that accidentally dropped its weapons and fuel tanks last week, authorities said Monday. The Air Force said the pilot was attempting to adjust an air vent that was disrupting his vision when the incident occurred at 8:22 p.m. on Friday over Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, during a nighttime mock firing exercise. The vent and emergency jettison button, which measure 3.5 centimeters and 3.3 centimeters in diameter, respectively, are located close to each other, contributing to the confusion, authorities said. 'The pilot, who was wearing night vision goggles, reported that strong wind was blowing into his helmet through the ventilation system. While trying to adjust the heater controls near the air vent, he mistakenly pressed the emergency jettison button,' Lt. Col. Jang Dong-ha, spokesperson for the Air Force, said during a press briefing in Seoul. As of Monday, the military had recovered both gun pods, the fuel tanks and 495 rounds of ammunition. Five rounds remained missing. The KA-1, a light attack variant of the KT-1 trainer aircraft, carries two pilots. The jettisoned gun pods, which house machine guns, also contained 500 rounds of 12.7 mm live ammunition. The dropped fuel tanks were empty. The aircraft returned safely to Wonju Air Base after reporting the incident to air traffic control. No emergency procedures were required. In response, the Air Force deployed a helicopter and about 270 personnel to the mountainous area where the equipment was dropped in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province. The Air Force confirmed that the equipment landed in uninhabited mountainous terrain and caused no civilian injuries or property damage. It added that it plans to conduct a comprehensive review of all related systems, including personnel, organizational structure and flight procedures. Training flights, which were suspended following the accident, are scheduled to resume Tuesday. These include the Freedom Flag exercise, a South Korea–US joint air drill that began Thursday and runs through May 2. Friday's incident comes after another one on March 3, when a misfire from a KF-16 fighter jet injured more than 30 people and damaged around 140 homes. That incident was also credited to pilot error, via inputting incorrect targeting coordinates.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Korea warns of ‘overwhelming deterrence' after U.S.-South Korea air drills
SEOUL, April 17 (UPI) -- North Korea warned Thursday it would respond with "overwhelming deterrence" against the United States following Washington's deployment of B-1B strategic bombers to the Korean Peninsula for a joint air exercise with South Korea this week. The allies' drills represent an "open threat to the security of our state and a grave provocation that raises the military tension in the region to an extreme dangerous level," a spokesperson for North Korea's Defense Ministry said in a statement carried by state-run Korean Central News Agency. "The DPRK will exercise the overwhelming deterrence and continue to make the U.S. recognize that its unannounced deployment of strategic means is a reckless and unnecessary abuse of strength," the spokesperson said, using the official acronym for North Korea. "The higher the level of provocation against the DPRK is, the greater the level of danger returning to the U.S. will be." The United States sent a pair of B-1B strategic bombers to participate in joint drills on Tuesday, which was a holiday in North Korea marking the birthday of founder Kim Il Sung. The exercise was intended to "respond to the continuous threat of North Korea's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and missile programs," Seoul's Defense Ministry said. Pyongyang has frequently objected to the deployment of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula and condemns the allies' joint military exercises as rehearsals for an invasion. The ministry spokesperson said Thursday that the latest exercise was a "process of increasing the skillfulness in tactics and procedures for attacking the DPRK, and completing preparations for going into real action at any time." North Korea "will never tolerate the slightest sign of threat of the hostile forces against the security sovereignty of the state," the spokesperson added. The drills marked the second deployment of U.S. B-1B bombers to the peninsula since President Donald Trump returned to office. Days after a February joint air exercise, Pyongyang test-fired strategic cruise missiles in what it called a demonstration of its nuclear deterrence capabilities. North Korea's statement came as the United States and South Korea kicked off a two-week joint air exercise, called Freedom Flag, on Thursday. The exercise, which runs until May 2, involves some 1,100 troops and 90 aircraft from both militaries, South Korea's air force said in a press release. Assets mobilized for the drills include South Korean F-35A, F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets and American F-16 and F-35 B fighters. The allies "plan to strengthen interoperability and cultivate capabilities for wartime joint mission execution," the release said. "In addition, they will intensively review and master the latest tactical and operational procedures that reflect the changes in the operational environment of modern warfare."
Times of Oman
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
North Korea warns US after air drill on Kim Il Sung birthday
Pyongyang: North Korea threatened retaliation on Thursday after the United States flew long-range B-1B bombers over South Korea during a joint training exercise. The drill took place on Tuesday, which North Korea considers as an invasion rehearsal for an attack against it. It is particularly cautious about the American use of long-range bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines. According to South Korea's Defense Ministry, the joint training, a routine practice between both countries, showed their combined military capabilities against North Korea's advancing nuclear programme. The joint air drill happened on the 113th anniversary of the birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea, which raised tensions. The strategic deployment of US long-range bombers in the region has become a "reckless bluffing," said North Korea's Defense Ministry in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. "The recent military move of the US and the Republic of Korea [South Korea] is an open threat to the security of our state and a grave provocation that raises the military tension in the region to an extremely dangerous level," KCNA added. North Korea's Defense Ministry threatened the US to retaliate against its "aggressive attempt to permanently fix the malignant instability element in the security environment of the region," KCNA added. North Korea often test-launches missiles in response to the US long-range bomber B-1B, which the US Air Force often uses for powerful airstrikes. Jeon Ha-kyu, a spokesperson South Korea's Defence Ministry, said in a briefing that the joint military venture was defensive. South Korea's Air Force announced on Thursday a large-scale aerial drill called "Freedom Flag" with the US Air Force that will occur twice a year. The two-week exercise would involve 90 fighter jets and other aerial military assets from South Korea and the US.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Korea warns US after air drill on Kim Il Sung birthday
North Korea threatened retaliation on Thursday after the US flew long-range B-1B bombers over South Korea during a joint training exercise. The drill took place on Tuesday, which North Korea considers as an invasion rehearsal for an attack against it. It is particularly cautious about the American use of long-range bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines. According to South Korea's Defense Ministry, the joint training, a routine practice between both countries, showed their combined military capabilities against North Korea's advancing nuclear program. The joint air drill happened on the 113th anniversary of birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea, which raised tensions. The strategic deployment of US long-range bombers in the region has become a "reckless bluffing," said North Korea's Defense Ministry in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA. "The recent military move of the US and the Republic of Korea [South Korea] is an open threat to the security of our state and a grave provocation that raises the military tension in the region to an extremely dangerous level," KCNA added. North Korea's Defense Ministry threatened the US to retaliate against its "aggressive attempt to permanently fix the malignant instability element in the security environment of the region," KCNA added. North Korea often test-launches missiles in response to the US long-range bomber B-1B, which the US Air Force often uses for powerful airstrikes. Jeon Ha-kyu, a spokesperson South Korea's Defense Ministry, said in a briefing that the joint military venture was defensive. South Korea's Air Force announced on Thursday a large-scale aerial drill called "Freedom Flag" with the US Air Force that will occur twice a year. The two-week exercise would involve 90 fighter jets and other aerial military assets from South Korea and the US. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escelated in recent years as North Korea continues with weapons tests to modernize its nuclear arsenal and backs Russia's war in Ukraine by providing weapons and troops. Edited by: Zac Crellin
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Korea threatens retaliation after US bombers fly over South Korea
North Korea has threatened unspecified retaliation after the US flew long-range bombers over South Korea, which the North claim may be a practice run for an attack. US pilots joined South Korean counterparts for the training mission, with South Korea's Defence Ministry stating it was designed to be a show of deterrence from the allied nations as North Korea advances its nuclear programme. The US and South Korea routinely hold joint military exercises they describe as defensive in nature. North Korea regards them as an invasion rehearsal and is particularly sensitive to the US mobilisation of strategic assets, such as long-range bombers, aircraft carriers, and nuclear-powered submarines. A spokesperson for North Korea's Defence Ministry said in a statement issued across state media on Wednesday: 'The recent military move of the US and the ROK (South Korea) is an open threat to the security of our state and a grave provocation that raises the military tension in the region to an extreme, dangerous level.' The statement added North Korea will 'deter by dint of powerful force the US aggressive attempt' in an effort to 'permanently fix the malignant instability element' in the security environment of the region. North Korea often test-launches in response to the US military drills using B-1B bombers, which are capable of carrying a large number of conventional weapons. In a development that could further anger North Korea, South Korea's air force announced it will begin large-scale biannual aerial exercises with American forces on Thursday. The two-week Freedom Flag exercise will involve 90 aircraft and other aerial assets from the allied nations. Animosities on the Korean Peninsula are running high as North Korea continues weapons tests to modernise its nuclear arsenal. North Korea also has thrown its support behind the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supplies both weapons and troops for use in the war campaign. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly boasted of his ties with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un since his January inauguration and has expressed willingness to revive diplomacy with the Asian nation. On March 31, Mr Trump called Mr Kim 'a very smart guy' and called North Korea 'a big nuclear nation'. Mr Trump said he and Mr Kim 'have a great relationship' and that 'there is communication', although there are no known public negotiations. North Korea is yet to publicly respond.
