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South Korea, Japan, and the United States on Sunday conducted a joint air drill involving a heavy bomber, Seoul\u2019s military said, in response to North Korea\u2019s latest long-range missile test.<\/p>\n
The exercise took place three days after Pyongyang launched one of its most powerful and advanced solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which experts say could reach targets in the mainland US.<\/p>\n
The drill mobilized the US\u2019 B-1B bomber, South Korea\u2019s F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets, and Japan\u2019s F-2 jets, Seoul\u2019s military said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe exercise demonstrates the commitment of the ROK-US alliance to integrated extended deterrence in response to the advancing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea,\u201d said South Korea\u2019s Joint Chiefs of Staff in a press release.<\/p>\n
During the aerial maneuver, South Korea and Japan\u2019s jets escorted the US strategic bomber to a designated location south of the Korean peninsula, \u201cdemonstrating an overwhelming capability to swiftly and accurately strike simulated targets,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n
The B-1B Lancer is a supersonic heavy bomber known for its high-speed performance with a payload of 75,000 pounds (34,000 kilograms) of munitions, including both conventional and precision-guided weapons.<\/p>\n
It was the fourth time this year the bomber was deployed to the Korean peninsula, the military said, and the second time for a trilateral aerial exercise to counter Pyongyang\u2019s military threats.<\/p>\n
The North\u2019s latest ICBM launch is said to have flown higher and further than any previous missile, according to North Korea as well as Seoul and Tokyo\u2019s militaries, which tracked it in real-time.<\/p>\n
The official Korean Central News Agency hailed it as \u201cthe world\u2019s strongest strategic missile,\u201d and leader Kim \u201cexpressed great satisfaction\u201d at the successful launch.<\/p>\n
North Korea \u201cwould never change its line of bolstering up its nuclear forces,\u201d the agency said.<\/p>\n
The launch came amid growing international scrutiny over Pyongyang\u2019s purported deployment of thousands of troops to Russia to support Moscow\u2019s war efforts in Ukraine, raising concerns North Korean soldiers in Russian uniforms could soon engage in combat.<\/p>\n
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