The Republic of Korea (ROK), the United States, and Japan have conducted joint air drills involving a U.S. strategic bomber, the ROK’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced on Sunday. The trilateral exercises took place over waters east of Jeju Island, located off the southern coast of the ROK.
This marks the fourth occasion this year that a U.S. strategic bomber has flown to the Korean Peninsula, highlighting the enhanced military coordination among the three nations. The combined air exercises mobilized F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets from the ROK Air Force, at least one B-1B bomber and F-16 fighter jets from the U.S. Air Force, and F-2 fighter jets from the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.
During the drills, the U.S. bomber, escorted by fighter jets from the three countries, executed a simulated strike on a designated target. The JCS noted that this is the second time this year that the trio has conducted air exercises together, emphasizing a commitment to regional security and collaborative defense strategies.
The joint exercise was conducted in response to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on October 31. The JCS underscored the importance of the drills in demonstrating the combined defensive posture and readiness of the ROK, the U.S., and Japan in the face of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
