U.S. to deploy additional 12 F-16 fighters to S. Korea

Amid increasing threats of provocations by North Korea, the United States will deploy an additional 12 F-16 fighter jets and 200 pilots and airmen in South Korea.

According to the U.S. Seventh Air Force on Friday, 12 F-16s from the Minnesota Air National Guard base in Duluth will be deployed at the Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. The F-16 is the U.S. Air Force's main fighter. Currently, the U.S. Air Force has three squadrons with 60 F-16s deployed in South Korea.

The additional fighters will be subordinated to the 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron under the U.S. Pacific Air Forces Command to check their joint operational capabilities with the South Korean Air Force and provide deterrence against North Korean provocations. An official at the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said the additional deployment is part of the U.S. Pacific Command's regular reinforcement measures to help maintain a deterrent against threats to regional security and stability.

Since the withdrawal of the USFK's Apache attack helicopters from South Korea in 2009, the United States has deployed F-16s, F-15s and A-10s to South Korea on a rotational basis.