▲ This file photo of the U.S. MQ-9A Reaper is provided by the U.S. Air Force. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

US drone-deployment

U.S. to deploy MQ-9A Reaper to S. Korean air base this year on rotational basis: source

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. military is planning to deploy the advanced unmanned aerial vehicle MQ-9A Reaper to the U.S. air base in Gunsan on a rotational basis in the second half of this year at the earliest, a source said Monday.

The unmanned aircraft would visit the U.S. Forces Korea 7th Air Force's base in Gunsan, 178 kilometers south of Seoul, as early as the second half of the year, and stay for several months before relocating to another site, though the exact date remains unknown, the military source said.

If realized as planned, the deployment would mark the first time the U.S. drone has been mobilized for a rotational role in South Korea, although it has previously been deployed for training purposes, the source said.

The MQ-9A is designed for both surveillance and attack missions and is capable of long-distance flight. Once deployed, it could potentially conduct surveillance on North Korea and monitor China's assertive activities in the Yellow Sea.

The 7th Air Force said its focus remains on readiness while sustaining and strengthening its alliance with South Korea, although it did not comment on the planned deployment.

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