Monitoring Desk
SEOUL: The US held joint air exercises bilaterally with Japan and South Korea involving strategic bombers on Sunday, a day following North Korea fired intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the exercise, in which American B-1B bombers, U.S. F-16, South Korea’s F-35A, and F-15K, showed the allies defense abilities and readiness position.
The South Korea’s military said that the air exercise strengthened the joint operation ability and affirmed the US’ ironclad promise to the defense of the Korean Peninsula and the execution of extended deterrence.
US, South Korea and Japan
Japan’s Defense Ministry said that it flew F-15s over Japan’s sea with the US B-1 bombers and F-16s in tactical exercises following the North Korea fired the missile. The Ministry added that the exercise reaffirms the strong will between the US and Japan to reply to any situation.
The air exercise came a day following North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the sea off Japan’s west coast. According to state media of North Korea, the country has conducted a “sudden launching drill” on Saturday.
The North Korea state news agency claimed that its missile has flown for more than 1 hour, as high as 5,768 km, before hitting a pre-set area 989 km away in open waters.
