Allies to hold air force drill involving 230 aircraft next month

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The United States and South Korea will stage a joint air force drill next month involving about 230 warfare airplanes, the U.S. Air Force said Friday, in an apparent show of force against North Korea.

The allies will hold the annual airborne exercise named Vigilant Ace from Dec. 4-8, mobilizing 12,000 U.S. personnel, according to the Seventh Air Force in Korea.

"This realistic air combat exercise is designed to enhance interoperability between U.S. and Republic of Korea forces and increase the combat effectiveness of both nations," it said in a statement, referring to South Korea by its formal name.

U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy personnel will train with air assets from South Korea with 230 aircraft at eight U.S. and South Korean military installations, it added.

The U.S. is planning to send six F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets to take part in the drill in what is believed to be a move to put maximum pressure on North Korea, according to South Korean military officials. Three or four F-35A jets will likely also join it.

It would be the first time for six F-22 stealth fighter planes to fly over South Korea at one time.

Seoul and Washington agreed last month to enhance rotational deployments of U.S. strategic assets to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

Earlier this month, three U.S. aircraft carriers conducted a joint naval exercise with the South Korean Navy in an unprecedented show of force against a provocative North Korea.

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