Photo : YONHAP News
The commander of United States Forces Korea(USFK) has expressed regret to South Korea over the recent U.S. Air Force drill over the Yellow Sea.
USFK said in a statement on Tuesday that Gen. Xavier Brunson had spoked directly with South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back in a phone call to express regret that the minister and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff(JCS) were not briefed on the drill in time.
The commander, however, reaffirmed during the phone call that prior notification had been provided to South Korea.
USFK said that it conducts regular training to maintain the highest level of readiness and ensure it can fulfill its mission, adding it doesn’t make apologies for maintaining readiness.
The statement came after U.S. and Chinese fighter jets engaged in a rare standoff over the Yellow Sea during a U.S. Air Force training operation last week.
Minister Ahn Gyu-back was said to have protested the drill in a call with Brunson last Thursday, raising concerns about the failure to share details of the exercise in advance.