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The United States recently deployed at least one Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle—capable of conducting strikes and reconnaissance—in Northeast Asia amid North Korea’s aggression. In a post on Facebook, the 163d Attack Wing of the California Air National Guard wrote that this marked the first time the drone unit had operated with South Korea’s Air Force at Gwangju Air Base.
North Korea has continued to develop weapons and build its military while focusing less on long-term efforts to secure peace with South Korea. Under a 1953 mutual defense treaty, the U.S. protects South Korea against North Korean aggression. More than 28,500 U.S. military personnel are stationed on the Korean Peninsula.
The Pentagon has regularly dispatched units, including aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines, and supersonic bombers, to South Korea for drills and rotational deployments. Additionally, the forward-deployed U.S. Forces Korea and its extended nuclear deterrence have been in place.
Images released by the U.S. military show a Reaper drone conducting an aviation-delivered ground refueling from a KC-130J aircraft at Gwangju Air Base in South Korea on July 22, and taking off from the base on July 24 when it was loaded onto a MC-130 aircraft.
The arrival of the MQ-9 marks the first extended deployment of this aircraft by the Republic of Korea. The 163d Attack Wing described the deployment as a training event that sharpened skills in unmanned operations, safe flight integration, and operating in South Korean airspace, advancing mission readiness now and in the future.
This deployment follows North Korea’s recent aggression and its continued weapons development. Under the mutual defense treaty signed in 1953, the U.S. protects South Korea from North Korean aggression. Over 28,500 U.S. military personnel are stationed on the Korean Peninsula to deter and defend against North Korea.
The deployment of the Reaper drone is part of a broader strategy involving aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines, and supersonic bombers regularly dispatched by the Pentagon for drills and rotational deployments in South Korea.
Images released last week show a Reaper drone conducting an “aviation delivered ground refueling” from a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J aircraft on July 22 at Gwangju Air Base in South Korea. The drone also took off from the base on July 24 and was loaded onto another MC-130 aircraft.
The arrival of the MQ-9 marks the first extended deployment of this aircraft by the U.S. in South Korea, highlighting enhanced mission readiness and interoperability with the Republic of Korea Air Force in the Indo-Pacific region.
A United States MQ-9A Reaper drone takes off from Gwangju Air Base in South Korea on July 24, showcasing its operational capabilities in South Korean airspace.
The deployment demonstrates the U.S. commitment to regional security, especially amid heightened tensions and North Korea’s recent missile tests under Kim Jong Un’s leadership.
This strategic move aims to deter potential threats and bolster joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea.
