The United States conducted joint bombing drills with South Korea, flying a B-1B bomber over the Korean Peninsula for the first time in seven years, according to the South Korean military on Wednesday. This exercise occurred amid escalating tensions, with North Korea sending balloons filled with trash to the South and jamming its GPS signals. As a result, the South Korean military suspended a 2018 inter-Korean military pact on Tuesday.
During the exercise, the US bomber dropped Joint Direct Attack Munitions at an undisclosed firing range in South Korea, escorted by South Korean F-15K fighter jets. The last time US B-1B bombers participated in such an exercise in South Korea was in 2017.
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense stated that the exercise aimed to implement the US extended deterrence commitment and strengthen the combined defense posture between South Korea and the United States. South Korea’s F-15Ks also participated in live-fire drills, showcasing a strong combined defense posture against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
The US bomber also engaged in joint air drills with South Korean F-35A and KF-16 fighters, as well as US F-35B and F-16 jets. However, the exact number of B-1B bombers involved in the exercise was not specified.
Additionally, a trilateral ministerial meeting was held in Singapore on June 2, attended by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, Japan’s Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and South Korea’s Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik. The officials reiterated their nations’ position on Taiwan, emphasizing regional peace as crucial for international security and prosperity. They also called for a peaceful resolution to cross-strait issues.
Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the two Koreas have been separated. The recent missile launch attempts by North Korea have been condemned by the US and its security allies, while Russia and China have defended North Korea’s actions.
At a UN Security Council meeting earlier this month, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, reported that North Korea has significantly increased its missile launch activities since 2022, including over 100 launches using ballistic missile technology, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions.