U.S. has about 80 regular combat aircraft in S. Korea: official

SEOUL, June 8 (Yonhap) -- About 80 U.S. combat aircraft are regularly stationed
in South Korea to underpin the joint deterrence capabilities of the two allies
against North Korea, a defense ministry spokesman in Seoul said Monday.
Won Tae-jae made the comment while denying local media reports that the Pentagon
has slashed the number of its F-16 fighter jets and A-10 attack aircraft here to
45, which would be a 25-percent cut over the past four years.
"The basic formations of the U.S. Air Force remains unchanged," Won said, citing
a report submitted earlier Monday by the U.S. Forces Korea. "Nearly 100 are
stationed here, if we also include the 20 deployed in rotation."
The U.S. has 28,500 troops stationed here as a deterrent against North Korea, a
legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce rather than a peace
treaty.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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