US Air Force May Have New Bombing Range
The US Air Force here in Korea may have finally found a new bombing range:
The United States Forces Korea (USFK) may be allowed to use a shooting range of the South Korean Air Force on Chik Island off Kunsan in North Cholla Province as an alternative air-to-ground weapons gunnery training site, sources at the Defense Ministry said Monday.
Recent reports said that U.S. Air Force pilots here are voicing discontent for not being able to properly fly missions with no alternative found to the Koon-Ni Range in North Cholla Province that closed last August.
To those who have been following this issue, this should could come as no surprise:
An electronic scoring equipment for air-to-ground firings and bombings is scheduled to be set up on Chik Island later next year, he said, adding the process, however, has been stalled because of complaints from residents.
The ministry, however, said any official decision on the issue has not been made yet.
The prior Air Force range, Koon-ni Range was shut down last year after years of complaints about the range:
The USFK shut down the Koon-Ni Range located in Maehyang-ni, Kyonggi Province, in August amid complaints from local residents of massive structural damage.
Under a Seoul-Washington agreement, South Korea promised an alternative training site but has not been able to due to strong opposition from residents.
The Koon-Ni Firing Range, built in the town in 1952, has been a constant source of anti-American feelings sparked by the damage from shooting and bombing exercises.
Of course there has never been any proof of “massive structural damage”, but the claims were enough to cause an up roar anyway.
I have a suggestion to solve this madness. How about the US Air Force uses one of the ranges the ROK Air Force is currently using and the ROK Air Force can use Chik Island. Obviously the ROK Air Force range must be better located to prevent “massive structural damage”, then the ones on remote islands causing this up roar.
The fact of the matter is that no matter where the US Air Force does their training there is going to be protests because there are anti-American hate groups that are committed to expelling USFK that are driving this issue. They could care less about “massive structural damage” or noise pollution. If they did, they would be protesting the ROK Air Force as well which they are not doing. So their whole arguement as usual rings very hollow. But they continue to spread whatever disinformation they can, to further drive a wedge between the ROK government and USFK. The current Korean political leadership will not stand up against these people for the sake of the alliance. Unfortunately this inept leadership is costing the readiness status of these pilots which ultimately effects the USFK ability to help defend South Korea if war were to happen which in the end will cost everyone here.
