Tokyo, MINA – Two B-1B strategic bombers of the US Air Force have trained with South Korea’s fighter jets over the Korean Peninsula in another show of force against North Korea, the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday.
The bombers from Guam entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone Tuesday night, according to a statement by South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), quoted by the news agency.
They staged a simulated air-to-ground missile firing drill with two F-15K fighters over the East Sea and flew across the peninsula, the statement said.
The B-1Bs and the F-15Ks then had another firing exercise over the Yellow Sea, JCS added.
The US military confirmed the nighttime operation, saying the long-range, multi-mission supersonic bombers, also called Lancers, held similar drills with Japan’s Air Force.
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The 7th Air Force described it a “sequenced bilateral mission” in the vicinity of Korea. It marked the first time that the Lancers had conducted a combined training exercise with South Korean and Japanese fighters at night, the unit stressed.
“Flying and training at night with our allies in a safe, effective manner is an important capability shared between the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea and hones the tactical prowess of each nations’ aviators,” said US Air Force Maj. Patrick Applegate of the 613th Air Operation Center.
“This is a clear demonstration of our ability to conduct seamless operations with all of our allies anytime anywhere.”
Late last month, the US flew B-1Bs over international waters close to the North’s east coast in an independent nighttime operation.
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South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said the North was apparently unaware of the bombers’ secret operation at the time. (T/RS5/RS1)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
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