South Korea, US carry out pilot rescue exercises

Feb 25, 2011, 9:00 GMT

Seoul - The United States and South Korea carried out air force exercises on Friday aimed at coordinating search and rescue efforts for pilots who bail out in enemy territory, a media report said.

The manoeuvres took place in South Korea's south-western province of Jeolla, the Yonhap News Agency reported, citing US and South Korean air force officials.

Helicopters, fighters and anti-tank planes were involved in the exercises.

The US has 28,500 troops in South Korea.

Tensions rose on the Korean Peninsula last year after a South Korean warship was torpedoed in March with the loss of 46 lives. Seoul blamed Pyongyang, a charge it denied.

Another four South Koreans died in November when the North carried out an artillery attack on an island in the South near the disputed maritime border.

The increased tension has led to a series of exercises between South Korean and US forces.