North adds air force training flights
The North Korean Air Force recently begun long-duration navigation flight training, a South Korean Defense Ministry official said yesterday, an unusual move because the North has had to cut back on its military exercises because of its severe economic crisis.“Ten North Korean fighter jets, MiG-21s and MiG-23s, practiced long-distance navigation flights Sunday and Monday,” the Defense Ministry source said. “Fighter jets are flying hundreds of kilometers, staying in the air for up to 90 minutes.” He speculated that the North Korean Air Force was training to counter U.S. tactics used in the Iraq war.
Separately, Cho Young-kil, Seoul’s defense minister, told the National Assembly’s Defense Committee yesterday that North Korea has stepped up the pace of its military training and has sent its MiGs to monitor U.S. and Russian surveillance flights over the East Sea (Sea of Japan).
Commenting on issues raised in recent military talks with the United States, Mr. Cho said Seoul would build up its defense capabilities to take over some core missions from U.S. forces here.
“We will strengthen our defense capabilities and U.S. forces will deploy new arms systems to make its forces more mobile,” Mr. Cho added. “The goal is to improve the joint military capabilities of South Korea and the United States.”
by Lee Chul-hee
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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