US long-range bomber joins air drill with South Korea, Japan

The United States conducted drills with South Korea and Japan, flying a B-1B bomber near the Korean Peninsula following North Korea’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile test.

South KoreaJapan, and the United States on Sunday conducted a joint air drill in response to North Korea’s recent test-firing of a new intercontinental ballistic missile, the South Korean military said.

“The exercise demonstrates the commitment of the ROK-US alliance to integrated extended deterrence in response to the advancing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea,” said South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement.

The drill involved the US B-1B nuclear bomber, as well as South Korea’s F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets, and Japan’s F-2 jets, which escorted the US strategic bomber to a designated location south of the Korean Peninsula, “demonstrating an overwhelming capability to swiftly and accurately strike simulated targets,” Seoul’s military added.

It was the fourth time this year that the nuclear bomber has been used on the Korean Peninsula. It was also the second time for a trilateral air exercise aimed at countering Pyongyang’s military threats, the statement said.South KoreaJapan, and the United States on Sunday conducted a joint air drill in response to North Korea’s recent test-firing of a new intercontinental ballistic missile, the South Korean military said.

“The exercise demonstrates the commitment of the ROK-US alliance to integrated extended deterrence in response to the advancing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea,” said South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement.

The drill involved the US B-1B nuclear bomber, as well as South Korea’s F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets, and Japan’s F-2 jets, which escorted the US strategic bomber to a designated location south of the Korean Peninsula, “demonstrating an overwhelming capability to swiftly and accurately strike simulated targets,” Seoul’s military added.

It was the fourth time this year that the nuclear bomber has been used on the Korean Peninsula. It was also the second time for a trilateral air exercise aimed at countering Pyongyang’s military threats, the statement said.