South Korea simulates strikes against 'key' North Korea facilities

SEOUL, March 21 (UPI) -- South Korea fighter jets simulated a precision strike against key North Korean facilities in a Seoul training exercise.

The drill involved F-15K aircraft as well as the C-130H transport aircraft, Yonhap reported.

In a statement issued Monday, South Korea's military said that the purpose of the "large-scale offense drill" was to "suppress additional North Korea provocations and to establish solid military readiness."

"During training, the enemy's core military facilities were the targets of strike scenarios, and the training was carried out using realistic air operations," South Korea said.

The exercise involved 16 F-15Ks, F-16s, FA-50 light attack aircraft, and two C-130H transport planes.

The jets were equipped with air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons, and drills included attacks on simulated North Korea combat planes, elimination of surface-to-air missiles, and scenarios where joint direct attack munitions would guide bombs to key North Korea military facilities.

After the facilities were destroyed in simulation, a C-130H plane would "enter" North Korea air space escorted by FA-50s and airlift special operations troops to conduct a sweep-up operation.

This is the first time C-130H planes participated in a South Korean drill, and all training was conducted in simulation.

Maj. Kang In-hong, a South Korea F-15K pilot, said the strong airborne firepower should warn "the enemy" against provocations, local news service Newsis reported.

The unilateral South Korean training exercise comes days after the conclusion of a joint U.S.-South Korea drill.

Key Resolve, a computer-simulated training exercise, involved for the first time the application of a new operation plan, OPLAN 5015, according to a South Korean Defense Ministry official.

Exercise Foal Eagle is ongoing and is expected to continue until the end of April.