US, South Korea, Japan hold first joint air force exercise

South Korea, Japan and the United States held joint air drills near the Korean Peninsula, marking the first time the three countries have participated in such an activity.

The South Korean Air Force said on October 22 that the exercise, with the participation of US B-52 strategic bombers and fighter jets from three countries, aimed to strengthen its ability to respond to growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.

US B-52 bombers fly in formation with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets during a joint air force exercise on October 22. Photo: US Air Force — US B-52 bombers fly in formation with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets during a joint air force exercise on October 22. Photo: *US Air Force*

The exercise "once again demonstrates the security cooperation and solidarity between the three countries and reaffirms the strong US commitment to the security of the Korean Peninsula," a statement from the South Korean air force said. "The US, ROK, and Japanese air forces will continue to strengthen cooperation, building on the foundation of the strong US-ROK alliance."

At a conference at Camp David, Maryland, USA, in August, the leaders of the three countries agreed to conduct annual multi-form joint military exercises and establish a crisis hotline.

The latest air drills are part of efforts by Washington and its two Asian allies to strengthen cooperation amid tensions with North Korea and China's influence in the region.

On the same day, the South Korean and US navies also completed a joint anti-submarine exercise called Silent Shark.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula have recently escalated due to increased military activity in the region. The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its escort ships docked at Busan, South Korea, on October 12 to participate in joint exercises with allies to show off force to North Korea.

Pyongyang later criticized the US aircraft carrier's visit, calling it a "blatant military provocation that escalates the situation into a catastrophic one," and warned that "the danger of nuclear war is imminent."

North Korea's state news agency KCNA published an English-language editorial on October 20, criticizing the US for sending B-52s to South Korea, warning that Washington's strategic assets on the peninsula would be "the top target of destruction."

Vu Hoang (According to Reuters, Korea Herald )

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