South Korea has publicly displayed for the first time some of 40 US fighter jets ordered. The presentation of four F-35A fighter jets and other weapons took place in the presence of President Moon Jae In at an air force base in the southeastern city of Daegu on Day 71 of the Armed Forces. Three of the F-35A jets were also flown in formation, the Ministry of Defense said.
North Korea had repeatedly criticized the planned deployment of the F-35A in advance. Among other things, it was said that this was a "dangerous action" that would fuel military tensions. Since late March, South Korea has received eight of the fighter jets of the US arms company Lockheed Martin.
US and North Korea want to resume negotiations
Meanwhile, there is movement between North Korea and the US: Both sides want to resume negotiations on North Korea's nuclear weapons program after months of stalemate and hold talks at work this week.
Both countries had agreed to start this Saturday. Thus, North Korea's First Deputy Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui was quoted by the state media of the internationally isolated country. On Friday there will be preparatory contacts. Where the talks take place, initially remained unclear. South Korea's presidential office welcomed the announcement.
At the ceremony in Daegu, Moon said strong defense capabilities supported peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula. At their third summit meeting in Pyongyang last September, Moon and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un said they would end the hostilities between the two countries once and for all and work towards a complete "denuclearization" of the peninsula.
