The U.S. Department of State approved a possible sale of 25 F-35 fighter jets and the stealth jets' related equipment for an estimated cost of $5.06 billion, a U.S. defense agency said Wednesday.
The United States is not seeking confrontation with North Korea and is open to discussions with the reclusive state, according to an unnamed source from the White House National Security Council quoted by Reuters.
South Korean and U.S. air forces conducted their first joint exercises with F-35A fighter jets from both countries in a symbolic show of combined strength.
Six U.S. F-35A fighter jets arrived in Korea on Tuesday to participate in joint drills, military authorities from both countries said. Their arrival marks the first public deployment of America’s stealth warplanes in Korea in five years.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman warned North Korea of a "swift and forceful response" if it conducts a nuclear weapons test, as the United Nations nuclear watchdog warned of such a test.
In an apparent warning to North Korea and China, the United States has deployed an unspecified number of F-35A stealth fighter jets to Okinawa, Japan, its military said Thursday.
The police on Monday detained three people for having executed orders from North Korea to organize public protests against the government’s plan to procure U.S.-built stealth fighter jets.
Korea will double the number of F-35 stealth fighter jets it will buy from the United States, including variants that will operate on the country’s first aircraft carrier, according to military sources.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap