S. Korea joins U.S.-led humanitarian operation with Japan, Canada

▲ Four C-130 cargo planes of the United States, South Korea, Japan and Canada attend the U.S.-led Operation Christmas Drop, a multinational humanitarian mission to send basic necessities to residents of Micronesia, in this photo released by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Dec. 14, 2023. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

S Korea-humanitarian operation

S. Korea joins U.S.-led humanitarian operation with Japan, Canada

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea joined an annual U.S.-led humanitarian operation along with Japan and Canada to deliver humanitarian aid to Micronesian islands ahead of the Christmas season, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said Thursday.

Air Forces of the four nations deployed C-130 planes to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam for Operation Christmas Drop held from Dec. 1-6, according to the command.

During this year's multinational operation, the cargo planes delivered 210 bundles of humanitarian aid and other necessities to more than 42,000 Micronesian residents in 58 islands and staged a formation flight for "joint display of strength and solidarity," it noted.

"The cargo planes marched down the runway in unison, setting the stage for a historic event — the first multinational interfly in the history of Operation Christmas Drop. Following the elephant walk, an aircraft and crew from each participating nation took to the skies, symbolizing the successful interoperability" of the nations' Air Forces, the command said in a release.

Launched in 1952, the operation is the U.S. military's longest-running humanitarian airlift operations.

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