South Korea, US conduct exercise with B-1B bomber, fighter jets

SEOUL, South Korea — The U.S. and South Korean militaries carried out an aerial train involving at the very least one U.S. B-1B bomber and a number of fighter jets within the allies’ first joint air power drill of President Donald Trump’s second time period.

Seoul’s Protection Ministry stated South Korean F-35 and F-15 fighter jets and American F-16s had been concerned within the train over the Korean Peninsula, however it didn’t specify what number of. The coaching was carried out to exhibit the U.S. deterrence capabilities in opposition to North Korean nuclear and missile threats and enhance interoperability between South Korean and U.S. forces, the ministry stated in an announcement.

South Korea and america lately have expanded their mixed army workouts and joint three-way drills with Japan within the face of rising North Korean nuclear threats, whereas additionally sharpening their protection methods constructed round U.S. strategic belongings. The drills have more and more concerned superior U.S. weapons methods, comparable to long-range bombers, plane carriers and submarines.

Tensions are at their highest in years as North Korean chief Kim Jong Un continues to flaunt his army nuclear capabilities and align with Russia over President Vladimir Putin’s conflict on Ukraine, whereas ignoring calls by america and Asian neighbors to renew denuclearization negotiations.

North Korea on Tuesday criticized Washington, Seoul and Tokyo for pursuing the “absurd” aim of denuclearizing the North and stated it’s going to push to increase its nuclear forces below Kim’s course. The assertion got here after the highest diplomats of the U.S., South Korea and Japan met at a safety convention in Germany and reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening army cooperation and reinforcing a world sanctions regime to counter Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.