The Air Force Academy announced Friday that Japanese cadet Hirokazo Honda, a third year at Japan's National Defense Academy, would be studying at the institute for one year as an exchange student.

An aerospace engineering major, Honda will take the same curriculum as fellow Korean cadets. Honda said that he is honored to be accepted by the Air Force Academy as many wish to come to Korea, and he hopes to make many Korean friends. The Air Force Academy will name a third year cadet as a mentor to Honda to help him adjust in the school and focus on Korean language education for him.

An official at the academy said that the exchange program has been instituted to promote understanding and cooperation between the two countries with the Korea-Japan World Cup ahead, adding that it is the first time for a Japanese cadet to be educated in the academy. The Air Force Academy has dispatched three cadets to the National Defense Academy since 2000, and also educates one Thai student a year according to an exchange agreement.

(Youh Tae-jong, tjyouh@chosun.com )