RSOI/Foal Eagle

RSOI/Foal Eagle 2003

Foal Eagle 2003 began on March 3, 2003 and occured as tensions between the United States and North Korea continued to escalate. On the day before the exercise a US RC-135 aircraft was shadowed by four North Korean aircraft and was at one point painted by a fighters aircraft.

The exercise lasted until April 2 and took place at the same time RSOI which will begin on March 19 and ran through March 26.

North Korea announced in mid-February that if the exercises were to take place that the DPRK would withdraw from the Armistace that ended the Korean War.

Fort Riley announced on February 26, 2003 that soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment would deploy to the ROK to participate in Foal Eagle.