US sends long-range bombers to participate in drills with South Korea and Japan

(CLO) The South Korean military said the US sent a long-range bomber to participate in a trilateral exercise with South Korea and Japan on November 3 in response to North Korea's new intercontinental ballistic missile test.

The United States on November 3 sent B-1B bombers to train with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets near the Korean Peninsula, demonstrating the three countries' firm resolve and readiness to respond to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile programs, according to a statement by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The trilateral air exercise is the second joint exercise between South Korea, the United States and Japan this year, the statement said.

The US has deployed B-1B nuclear bombers in joint exercises with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets following North Korea's missile test. Photo: AFP

Seoul's military said the drills involved US B-1B nuclear bombers, South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets and Japanese F-2 fighters.

During the air exercise, South Korean and Japanese fighter jets escorted US strategic bombers to a designated location in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, "demonstrating overwhelming capabilities in rapidly and accurately attacking simulated targets," the report added.

According to the South Korean military, the US has flown B-1B bombers over or near the Korean Peninsula four times this year. A B-1B is capable of carrying a large amount of conventional weapons.

Earlier on October 31, North Korea tested its newly developed Hwasong-19 ICBM, which flew higher and stayed in the air longer than any other missile the country has ever launched. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called it a "appropriate military action" to counter external security threats.

The Hwasong-19 test was North Korea's first ICBM test in nearly a year, indicating progress in the North's missile program.

The United States typically responds to major North Korean missile tests by temporarily deploying powerful military assets such as long-range bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines near the Korean Peninsula.

Hoai Phuong (according to AP, SCMP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/my-dieu-may-bay-nem-bom-tam-xa-tham-gia-tap-tran-voi-han-quoc-nhat-ban-post319776.html