US helicopters hold first live-fire drills in South Korea

US Army Apache attack helicopters based in South Korea are holding live-fire drills with rockets and guns for the first time since 2019, in a further escalation of tension on the Korean Peninsula. They began just south of the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) along the border with North Korea, after having been canceled in recent years when those living nearby complained about noise and safety concerns.

The US 2nd Infantry Division said crews were practicing during both day and night on the AGM-114 Hellfire missile, Hydra 70 rocket and 30mm canon.

The drills come as the allies announced they would resume other live field training during joint exercises scaled back for several years because of COVID-19 and efforts to reduce tension with the North.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in May, has vowed to "normalize" joint drills and step up military might against the North.

The lack of live-fire training had been a "big problem" for the US pilots and crews, a former senior US defense official said.

South Korea’s hawkish Yoon has vowed a tougher stance against Pyongyang, vowing to “normalize” US-South Korea joint military drills.

Such exercises have always infuriated the North, which considers them rehearsals for invasion.

Earlier this month, President Yoon ordered the country's military to "promptly and sternly" confront North Korea. 

His harsh words came as the US Air Force sent F-35 stealth warplanes to South Korea to carry out maneuvers, with a New York-based analyst saying the deployment of these destabilizing weapons would likely be viewed as a First Strike threat by North Korea.

US Forces Korea said in a statement that the fighter jets along with several others will participate in a 10-day training mission, flying over South Korea and surrounding waters.

MG