Monitoring Desk
SEOUL: The US and South Korea conducted joint air exercises featuring an American strategic bomber and stealth fighter planes in response to North Korean threats, local media reported on Thursday. The planes flew over the Yellow Sea located between the Korean peninsula and China in the first such exercises in 2023, the Yonhap news agency said.
South Korea-US military cooperation
The show of military power came a day following the US Defence Secretary and his South Korean counterpart warned of an increase in such drills and security cooperation between Washington and Seoul as the two sides grapple with what they call rising nuclear threats from North Korea.
The latest military drills involved F-22, and F-35B stealth fighter planes and a B-1B strategic bomber from the US Air Force and F-35A fighters from South Korea’s military.
“The joint air drills this time demonstrate the US’ will and abilities to provide credible and strong extended deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear threats,” Yonhap quoted South Korea’s defence ministry as saying.
Read Also: United States, South Korea To Hold ‘Tabletop’ Exercises on Nuclear Threats
Yonhap said that extended deterrence refers to Washington’s commitment to utilize a full range of military assets like nuclear weapons, to defend Seoul.
Defence Secretary and South Korean Defence Minister agreed to “expand the level and scale” of combined military drills, due to “continued provocations” from North Korea.
Tension in the Korean peninsula has intensified sharply last year as North Korea conducted a record-breaking number of arms tests, including firing an intercontinental ballistic missile.
Any combined US-South Korean military drill infuriates North Korea, which views it as a rehearsal for an attack and has often responded with threats and drills of its own.
