South Korea joins elephant walk during US-led multinational air exercise

South Korea has been conducting a US-led multinational air exercise, along with four other nations, in Guam since earlier this month to enhance joint operability, the Air Force said on February 9.

The annual Cope North exercise has been taking place at the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam since Monday, involving more than 80 military aircraft and some 3,000 troops from six countries, including Japan, Australia, France and Canada, Yonhap reports.

On the first day, a coalition of 33 aircraft, involving South Korea's two CN-235 transport aircraft, staged an elephant walk, which refers to a close formation of aircraft taxiing en masse before takeoff.

"Throughout the exercise, we aim to aggressively practice combat air forces and mobility air forces dispersal activities in concert with all six participating nations. Our network of alliances and partnerships remains the backbone of global security," Lt. Col. David Overstreet, the Cope North lead planner, was quoted as saying by the US Indo-Pacific Command.

During the exercise that runs through Feb. 23, the South Korean troops will take part in an aerial medical evacuation, personnel and cargo drop drills, and stage joint formation flights with French troops, according to the Air Force.