Photo By Lt.Cmdr. Brendan Trembath | Service Members from the Republic of Korea, United Nations Command Member States and...... read more read more
CAMP BONIFAS, South Korea — On a regular basis service members from a variety of nations board a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for “a right to flight” mission deep in the Demilitarized Zone which divides the Korean Peninsula.
Their destination is H-128 a Helicopter Landing Zone in the Joint Security Area—the designated neutral ground for dialogue between United Nations Command and the Korean People’s Army.
United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission Secretariat member Danish Navy Commander Klaus Ostergaard said the regular flights are based on the provisions of the 1953 Armistice Agreement.
“The Armistice Agreement says both sides can construct operate and maintain a suitable airfield in their respective parts of the Demilitarized Zone in the vicinity of the headquarters of the Military Armistice Commission,” Cmdr. Ostergaard said.
This airfield is important for ensuring that UNC personnel can access the Joint Security Area quickly and no matter the road conditions to support dialogue and implementation of Armistice responsibilities. It is also practices the processes necessary for helicopter operations that may be necessary within the DMZ such as firefighting or medical evacuations.
On a recent right to flight mission the assigned Black Hawk entered the DMZ and flew low over woods and rice paddies, passing Daeseong-dong, the only village within the southern portion of the DMZ.
Then the helicopter continued north to H-128 within sight of North Korea.
The Black Hawk landed on a sturdy mat of perforated steel planking and the passengers disembarked for an orientation at nearby Freedom House.
From a balcony the group could see the famous blue buildings of conference row – bisected by the administrative boundary line known as the Military Demarcation Line.
This time the H-128 passengers included U.S. ROK, Australian, New Zealand, Thai and Swiss service members.
New Zealand Embassy defense attaché Col. Rob Loftus said joining a H-128 mission was informative and useful.
“As the New Zealand Defence Attaché and senior Liaison officer to the UNC it was an excellent opportunity to see the ground and the operational environment. It was also important for me to meet up with the Kiwi servicemen and women who are working in the joint security area with UNCMAC and doing a great job.”
Before each H-128 flight UNC notifies the Korean People’s Army to reduce the risk of miscalculation.
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.18.2025 21:56 |
| Story ID: | 495484 |
| Location: | PAJU, GYEONGGIDO [KYONGGI-DO], KR |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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