Korean Air Force to Take Over Search And Rescue Missions

The Korean Air Force will take over the search and rescue missions of combined Korea-U.S. forces, which have until now been overseen by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), from Sept. 30.>> According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Sept. 25, the search and rescue mission is the last of 10 major military duties whose responsibilities will be handed over to the Korean armed forces before the transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul.>> Gen. Kim Tae-young, the JCS chairman, and Gen. Walter Sharp, the USFK commander, signed a letter of confirmation on the transfer of the military duties at the JCS headquarters on the afternoon of Sept. 25.>> The search and rescue missions on the Korean Peninsula have so far been carried out jointly by the Korean and U.S. air forces. But the Korean Air Force will be solely responsible for the missions from now on.>> A JCS officer said, "Countries around the world have concentrated their energies on securing top-notch air force capabilities and training pilots. At this juncture, equipped with all-weather rescue capabilities, the Korean Air Force will be able to enhance its war capabilities, as well as increase the survival rate of stranded pilots in peacetime.">> The military duties that have been handed over to the Korean armed forces include the guarding of the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the truce village of Panmunjom, management of air-to-ground firing ranges, special marine operations, weather forecasts, and around-the-clock search and rescue missions.>> The JCS officer said, "The Korean armed forces have been able to reinforce their capabilities in the process of taking over the 10 major military duties from the USFK. Even after the takeover of the military duties, Korea and the United States are developing their relationship into a stronger alliance by conducting joint exercises on an equal footing.