USFK commander apologises to Seoul after air standoff with China

The commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has issued an apology to South Korea following a rare aerial standoff between U.S. and Chinese fighter jets over the Yellow Sea, sources told reporters on February 24.

Gen. Xavier Brunson delivered the apology to South Korean military authorities concerning the U.S. Air Force exercise conducted from February 18 to 19, the sources said, Caliber.Az reports per Yonhap. 

His apology followed a complaint from South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, who, in a phone call last week with Brunson, expressed concern over the failure to share details of the exercise in advance.

On February 18, U.S. and Chinese fighter jets engaged in a rare standoff during the U.S. Air Force training operation, which involved roughly 10 USFK F-16 fighter jets. The aircraft reportedly entered an area between the respective air defense identification zones of South Korea and China, prompting China to dispatch its own fighter jets. No clashes were reported.

The incident led the U.S. military to conclude the exercise early, on February 19, ahead of the originally scheduled end date of February 21.

A USFK official declined to comment on the situation, saying they do not "publicly comment on conversation between senior leaders."

By Sabina Mammadli