Korean Media: South Korea-US "Golden Eagle Exercise" Only Four Times a Year ... May Consider Halving North Korea's Scale

¬ Adjusting the annual 8 times of air joint exercises, the Air Force "number of participating aircraft increased by 2 times"

It is reported that the number of South Korea-US joint air exercises "Golden Eagle Exercise" has been adjusted from the current 8 times a year to 4 times. The South Korean Air Force originally planned to conduct 8 Golden Eagle Exercises in 2025, but this year will only hold 4 times, and this matter was only recently disclosed to the public. Analysts believe that this move reflects the government's "adjustment" of the South Korea-US joint exercises, which have long been criticized by North Korea, and aims to reduce it to a minimum. Both inside and outside the military stated: "Other annual South Korea-US joint maneuvers may also be halved compared to previous years."

On the 9th, according to the Air Force: "Today, the first Golden Eagle exercise of this year will be held at Osan Base from the 9th to the 13th." The Air Force also said: "The single-time participation force of this year's Golden Eagle exercise has been expanded to more than twice the previous level, and the number of sorties will also increase significantly, replacing the annual exercise frequency from 8 times to 4 times."

"Golden Eagle Exercise" is a large-scale joint air exercise conducted by South Korean and U.S. fighter jets alternating between air bases on the Korean Peninsula. This year's first exercise is expected to involve South Korean Air Force KF-16, F-35A, FA-50, and U.S. Air Force F-16. Regarding the reduction in the number of exercises, the Air Force explained: "This number was determined after negotiations between South Korea and the U.S., considering conditions such as the retirement of U.S. A-10 and changes in combat power." Last year, all U.S. A-10s stationed in South Korea were retired, reducing training needs, while the number of participating aircraft has increased by more than twice compared to previous training, thus improving the quality of training.

However, some analysts believe that the halving of this year's Golden Eagle exercises reflects the current government's approach to reduce exercises. The military stated that the main South Korea-US joint exercise command post exercise (CPX) and Freedom Shield (FS) will be held normally next month. However, the mobility training (FTX) that used to be linked with the command post exercise will no longer be concentrated during the South Korea-US joint exercise period, but will be spread throughout the year. With this adjustment, the Golden Eagle exercise will not take place during the FS period.

In August 2025, during the "Yushin Freedom Shield" (UFS) South Korea-US joint exercise after President Lee Jae-myung's government took office, the military had previously postponed 22 out of 40 or so FTXs due to extreme heat and other reasons, and conducted them "dispersedly" in September. In fact, only 5-6 of them were conducted in September, and the remaining 22 were completed until December. Among them, 2 were not South Korea-US joint exercises, but South Korean military-only exercises. According to a military source: "Due to the U.S. schedule issues, it is difficult to complete all the planned training," and "the halving of the Golden Eagle exercise may be a preview of the subsequent reduction in mobility exercises."

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original: toutiao.com/article/1856810631198784/

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