Translated to English
USFK Patriot Osan Base moves... Large transport aircraft such as the C-5 also appeared
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jung-hyun = It is reported that the USFK has moved the missile interceptor air defense system Patriot from another US military base in Korea to the Osan base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.
In addition, large U.S. military transport aircraft such as the C-5 and C-17 are also said to be identified at the Osan base.
The Middle East crisis, which began with the bombing of Iran by the United States and Israel, has raised the possibility of some USFK troops being transferred to the Middle East, and some have raised speculation that it is a move to send Patriot to the Middle East.
According to multiple government sources on the 6th, Patriot batteries at other US military bases were also identified at Osan Base in addition to the Patriot batteries previously deployed.
The Patriot is a missile that intercepts enemy ballistic missiles at medium and low altitudes, and is the core missile defense system of the USFK along with the THAAD (High Altitude Missile Defense System) that intercepts at high altitudes.
In addition to Patriot's move to Osan Base, large U.S. military transport planes such as the C-5 and C-17 were also reportedly identified at Osan Base.
The C-17 routinely comes to Osan Base to transport US military equipment and troops, but the C-17's larger Osan-based landing is considered unusual.
There are observations that the USFK moved the Patriots deployed at other US military bases to Osan and that the US military transport plane stopped at Osan was preparing to transfer the USFK Patriots to the Middle East.
The USFK Patriot also rotated two batteries to the Middle East during Operation Midnight Hammer, which carried out a blitzkrieg attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in June last year, and returned in October of the same year.
However, whether this transfer of power is for the purpose of dispatching the Patriot in preparation for the prolonged situation in the Middle East, it is difficult to determine whether the ROK-US joint exercise 'Freedom Shield' (Freedom Shield· FS) for practice.
The Pentagon and USFK have avoided giving specific answers to questions about the transfer of power and the withdrawal of troops from the Middle East.
A Ministry of National Defense official replied at a press briefing on the same day, "It is not appropriate for the Korean government to comment on the operation of the USFK's forces."
"The mission of USFK is to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region by maintaining a solid joint defense posture with our military, and to this end, the ROK and the United States will continue to maintain close communication and cooperation," he said.
A USFK official also said, "We will not comment on the possibility of redeploying or potential redeployment of specific military capabilities or assets for operational security reasons," and added, "USFK continues to focus on maintaining a strong and ready combat-capable force posture on the Korean Peninsula, and the United States continues to maintain a firm commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea."
