Seoul: A special counsel team's raid on Osan Air Base, which hosts both South Korean and U.S. forces, in July had "no procedural issues," Air Force chief Gen. Son Sug-rag said Thursday, refuting controversy over the raid.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in July, special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team carried out a search and seizure operation on the air base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. This was part of an investigation into allegations that drones were sent to Pyongyang ahead of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition last year.
U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. David Iverson has reportedly lodged a complaint to Seoul's foreign ministry, expressing concerns over the search conducted without prior consultations with the U.S. side. "I admit the situation could have been misleading, but as far as I know, (the USFK) is currently resolving its misunderstanding," the Air Force chief stated during a parliamentary audit session. "Procedurally, there were no problems."
Lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party argued that the raid should have been conducted after consultations with the U.S. side, claiming it has "damaged" the alliance between the countries and blaming the ruling Democratic Party (DP) for launching a "deformed" special counsel investigation. The disagreement led to a temporary suspension of the audit session as DP lawmakers protested vehemently.
Kim Hyung-soo, head of the Air Force Operations Command, clarified that the search was conducted in accordance with due procedure under a memorandum of understanding between the allies governing the raided facility, asserting that it did not require prior consultation with the United States.
Meanwhile, the Air Force is planning to secure sixth-generation fighter jets designed for future warfare by the mid-to-late 2040s, according to a report submitted to the parliamentary audit session Thursday. The plan includes developing collaborative combat aircraft designed to operate in conjunction with existing FA-50 light attack fighters and KF-21 fighter jets by the 2030s. The envisioned sixth-generation fighter project aims to secure complete technology ranging from stealth mode, light armed aircraft, engines, and quantum communication mode to compensate for the antiquated F-16 fighter jets.