The naval and air readiness exercise being staged by the South Korean and U.S. militaries moved into high gear Monday, as the allied forces conducted unprecedented simultaneous drills in the eastern waters of the Korean Peninsula by employing advanced maritime and air assets.

Standing in front of two F-22 stealth fighters, which were first deployed to the peninsula for a training exercise, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey A. Remington, commander of the U.S. 7th Air Force here, reiterated that the ongoing exercise is intended to send a “message” against a North Korean provocation.

The three-day exercise, dubbed “Invincible Spirit,” started Sunday with the involvement of 8,000 personnel, 200 aircraft and 20 vessels from the allied forces. The F-22 Raptor, considered as the world’s most advanced combat aircraft, arrived in South Korea last week for the first time in a show of strong South Korea-U.S. deterrence capability.

“The F-22 Raptor came to us because it is here in the Pacific region right now at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, on what we call the theater security package to demonstrate to our alliance partners both Korea and Japan and all of North East Asia, our commitment to peace and stability in this region of the world,” Remington said.

In his opening speech, Remington, who serves as deputy commander of U.S. Forces Korea, said, “The training will increase operational interoperateability and capabilities and demonstrate the United States’ resolve and support to the Republic of Korea and regional partners.”

“Invincible Spirit,” is defensive in nature, and designed to deter further provocations from North Korea, he added, apparently referring to the North’s alleged attack on one of South Korea’s warships in the West Sea in March.

Read more here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• You: US and S Korea begin joint drill – Aljazeera.net (news.google.com)
• U.S. drills w/ S.Korea; N.Korea makes threats (abclocal.go.com)