US sends F-35B destroyer to exercise with South Korea

USS Wasp can carry the US Marine Corps' F-35B. Photo: US Navy

More than 11,500 US troops, including thousands of soldiers stationed outside the Korean Peninsula, joined the four-week Foal Eagle military exercises on April 1, along with some 300,000 South Korean troops, Yonhap quoted a South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman as saying.

The two allies usually begin their largest annual joint exercises in late February or early March and continue for two months. This year, however, they waited until after the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

In addition, the organization time was also shortened to one month, and the US showed no signs of mobilizing strategic military assets close to the Korean peninsula, such as super aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines.

However, the US still sent the 40,500-ton amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, carrying F-35B stealth fighters, and a similar ship named USS Bonhomme Richard. These are ships that are considered to have “near-aircraft carrier” capabilities.

Officials from both sides also stressed that there was no change in the number of participating soldiers, program and intensity of the exercise.

In particular, the marine forces of the two countries will activate the Ssangyong (Double Dragon) amphibious assault exercise from today until April 8.

Some observers believe that South Korea and the US want to demonstrate their strength while avoiding being seen as provoking the DPRK. According to the plan, leader Kim Jong-un will hold summit talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on April 27 and with US President Donald Trump in May./.