A sneak peek into the 'Ghost Rider' of the US Air Force; What is it doing in South Korea?

The capacity of the AC 130-J is large according to CNN who has reported this. Nicknamed the Ghost rider, it has the ability to pick on objects which are located 50,000 feet away. It has powerful cameras that can easily capture the photographs before relaying it back the command center. It is also equipped with the biggest gun ever mounted on a fixed wing plane. Recently, the aircraft was spotted in the South Korean air space where it was conducting joint exercises with a key Asian ally. This aircraft is critical to the US Air Force and its aircraft mounted gun missions in places such as Iraq and Somalia.

AC 130-J:

The aircraft has two weapon systems: 105mm Howitzer and a 30mm canon that can launch precision guided missiles from the aircraft at targets, far away.

Joint exercises with South Korea:

There have been recent tensions between South Korea and North Korea. A campaign using balloons used by North Korea has been dumping garbage on the south. Trash is being sent to the South from North Korea. The conflict in the Korean peninsula has created tensions between the two countries. The presence of US is being seen as a hostile act by the North Koreans. South Korea has also been dropping pamphlets carrying propaganda messages into the North.

Aircraft in South Korea:

During the joint exercise, personnel onboard the aircraft fired 43-pound shells from the 105mm howitzer in a firing range located east of Seoul. The blast is reported to have been so powerful that it pushed the tail of the 80-ton aircraft six feet to the right. It took exactly eight seconds for the aircraft to hit the target which was located 50,000 feet away.

Many defense analysts pointed out that the mountainous region of South Korea offered a great opportunity for the aircraft to function under real war like situation unlike its home bases in the US.

Vulnerabilities:

These aircrafts fly low and are hence prone to being fired upon by the enemy and even bringing it down. It is vulnerable to various anti-aircraft missiles. Further in 1991, seven AC-130 gunships were brought down after being struck in Iraq during the gulf war.

FAQs
Are there any other arch rivals opposed to the US in the region near the Korean peninsula?
The US provides net security to the region. There are Russia and China who are considered to be the rivals of the US. South Korea and Japan are the two key allies in the region.

Which is the latest peace attempt between South and North Korea?
It was in 2018 and 2019 that former US President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un met twice. The first meeting was held in Singapore. The second meeting took place on the border between South and North Korea.