Earlier today:
“A citizen took a picture of an F-22 flying in the skies over Gwangju this afternoon and posted it on an internet community page, which is apparently how it became known that the F-22 had arrived in South Korea." https://t.co/BxeQMnPUPh
— Tim Shorrock (@TimothyS) May 2, 2018
Here’s the story, from Hankyoreh:
Considered the most powerful fighter in existence, the F-22 has seldom visited South Korea. Six F-22 aircraft took part in the joint South Korea-US air exercise Vigilant Ace last December while military tensions were running high in the wake of North Korea’s test launch of the Hwasong-15 ICBM, but this marks the first time they are taking part in Max Thunder. Around eight F-22 fighters are reported to have arrived in South Korea.
The F-22 fighters’ participation in the exercises is drawing particular notice for coming just after an inter-Korean summit, with a North Korea-US summit expected to come in late May or early June. The situation is seen as unusual, with the US’s most powerful aircraft deployed at a time when the chief mood on the Korean Peninsula is one of dialogue and efforts toward peace rather than military confrontation.
A military official cautioned against reading political meaning into the aircraft’s presence, explaining that exercises are “something we always have to do regardless of the political situation.”The announcement of the F-22 fighters’ arrival reportedly came after a chance discovery that day by enthusiasts.“
And the kicker:
A citizen took a picture of an F-22 flying in the skies over Gwangju this afternoon and posted it on an internet community page, which is apparently how it became known that the F-22 had arrived in South Korea,” a military official said.
So let’s hear it for citizen journalism!
