4 Ways North Korea Can Counter the F-35 North Korea’s air force is certainly not up to the task, so Pyongyang will look to asymmetric alternatives. By A.B. Abrams for The Diplomat July 19, 2022 U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs from the 356th Fighter Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base fly side by side with Republic of Korea Air Force F-35s from the 151st and 152nd Combat Flight Squadrons as part..