Teak Knife exercise confirmed as U.S. reiterates commitment

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Teak Knife exercise confirmed as U.S. reiterates commitment

U.S. soldiers take part in exercises during Teak Knife at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, on Sept. 28, 2022, in a photo from the Facebook account of the U.S. Special Operations Command Korea. [YONHAP]

U.S. soldiers take part in exercises during Teak Knife at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, on Sept. 28, 2022, in a photo from the Facebook account of the U.S. Special Operations Command Korea. [YONHAP]

 
South Korea and the U.S. held a close-air-support training exercise utilizing AC-130J and MC-130J combat transport aircraft, a U.S. official said Tuesday, after a Pentagon spokesman said the defense officials of the two countries agreed to strengthen extended deterrence during their table-top exercise.
 
The special operations exercise, Exercise Teak Knife, began early last month, according to Capt. Kimberly Chatto, director of public affairs for U.S. Special Operations Command Korea.  
 
“It is training that ensures combat readiness for special operations forces no matter the environment while also strengthening the ironclad commitment between the United States and the Republic of Korea,” Chatto told Yonhap, referring to the South by its official name, the Republic of Korea.
 
The exercise marks the first time a Lockheed AC-130J Ghostrider, a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack transport aircraft, has been deployed to Korea, according to Chatto.
 
“Having this aircraft come from the United States gives us opportunities throughout the exercise to support extended deterrence and what special operations aircraft is able to provide throughout different training scenarios with both U.S. and ROK special operations forces,” Chatto said.
 
Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. pledge to use all of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend South Korea if it comes under attack.
 
The AC-130J was flown from Hurlburt Field in Florida, while the MC-130J multi-mission combat transport aircraft was dispatched from the 353rd Special Operations Wing based in Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan.
 
Chatto said that the allies incorporated the AC-130J and MC-130J into training missions involving strike aircraft stationed here.
 
Exercise Teak Knife has taken place since the 1990s, but often without public disclosure. The last time the U.S. Special Operations Command-Korea said the exercise took place was in September last year.
 
The announcement of the latest exercise came after the United States and South Korea agreed on the need to further strengthen U.S. extended deterrence following their 8th Deterrence Strategy Committee Table-Top Exercise (DSC TTX) at the Pentagon, a U.S. Department of Defense spokesman said Tuesday.
 
“Coming out of that tabletop exercise, both sides agreed on the need to continue to strengthen extended deterrence, including through robust consultative mechanisms in crisis communication, as well as information sharing and joint planning and execution,” Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.
 
DSC TTX, also known as a table-top exercise, is a discussion-based joint exercise where the allies plan their response to hypothetical scenarios where the North launches an attack with nuclear weapons.
 
Ryder declined to provide additional details when asked if the U.S. plans to deploy more strategic assets to South Korea in response to advances in North Korea’s missile program, but reiterated commitments made by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during his trip to Seoul last month.
 
“You have heard our senior leadership including Secretary Austin highlight the fact that we will be deploying strategic assets into the region and to South Korea on a rotational basis in support of extended deterrence, but I don’t have any specifics to provide,” the spokesman said.
 
Cho Tae-yong, South Korea’s ambassador to Washington, said on Monday that the countries have agreed to hold follow-up exercises in the near future.
 

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]
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