A US B-1B bomber stages a joint air drill with South Korean jet fighters.[Yonhap News Photo]
A US strategic bomber trained with South Korean fighter jets Wednesday over the peninsula, sending a strong warning message to North Korea, according to the allies.
They said the B-1B conducted an immediate deployment and simulation-based bombing drill in case of any emergency on the peninsula. Initially, two B-1Bs were scheduled to be deployed but there was a "mechanical" problem with one, an informed source said.
Flying over the island of Jikdo in the West Sea, where the US Forces Korea's bombing range is located, the B-1B was joined by South Korea's squadrons of F-15K and two KF-16 fighter jets as part of the two countries' annual defense drills, added the source. It then headed back to the Guam base.
"Through this exercise, the South Korean and US Air Forces demonstrated their strong deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," the South Korean Air Force said in a statement. The practice is designed to improve interoperability and combined tactical capabilities, as well as the ability to promptly deploy the strategic asset when needed, it added.
(Yonhap)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
