US nuclear bomber participates in air drill with South Korea and Japan

In response to North Korea’s recent long-range missile launch, Seoul’s military revealed that South Korea, Japan, and the United States conducted a joint air rehearsal on Sunday that included a nuclear-capable bomber.

The exercise was conducted three days after North Korea fired one of its most sophisticated solid-fuel-powered intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which experts caution may potentially reach the US mainland.

According to South Korea’s military statement, the exercise included the US B-1B nuclear-capable bomber, South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighter fighters, and Japan’s F-2 fighter jets.

According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, “this exercise highlights the ROK-US alliance’s commitment to integrated extended deterrence amid North Korea’s escalating nuclear and missile threats.”

The US bomber was escorted to a predetermined location south of the Korean peninsula by South Korean and Japanese fighter jets during the exercise, demonstrating a potent response with accurate strike capability on simulated targets.

This is the second time a trilateral air drill has been conducted to confront North Korea’s military provocations, and the fourth time the nuclear bomber has been deployed to the Korean peninsula this year.

According to reports, North Korea’s last ICBM launch broke records for both altitude and distance, and both Seoul and Tokyo’s military systems tracked it in real time.