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The U.S. military apparently wants to make its F-117 stealth fighter-bombers exercises in Korea a regular event. The U.S. Air Force has sent the key strategic weapons to Korea on five occasions, including this year, but had not so far made clear that this was to be an annual fixture.
The F-117 will carry out exercises here for four to six months a year, a strategy that would boost the U.S. Forces in KoreaˇŻs fighting strength no less than if they were based here permanently and is therefore expected to draw protests from North Korea.
USFK spokesman Kim Young-kyu said Tuesday the F-117 fighter-bombers will arrive shortly as part of a ˇ°routine rotational deployment." He said their presence was part of strengthening the USFK's deterrent capability. Asked if this was an annual mission, he said, "You may see it that way."
Kim said besides normal training, pilots would also familiarize themselves with the terrain of the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. Air Force rotates its F-117s in areas of strategic importance worldwide.
The F-117 ˇ°Nighthawk" stealth fighter-bomber is almost completely undetectable to enemy radar and would play a key role in an emergency on the Peninsula by bombing strategic targets in North Korea like the country's leadership, command and control facilities, nuclear facilities and missile and airbases.
This year's deployment of 15 F-117s is the largest so far and has drawn international interest because it comes at a tense time in the North Korean nuclear dispute. The U.S. Air Force has 55 of the fighter-bombers.
The USFK says security concerns do not allow it to reveal when the aircraft will arrive in Korea and which units they will be attached to. It says the relevant units will make an announcement when the F-117s have arrived.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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