The US, Japan and South Korea carried out joint military maneuvers in response to the escalation of threats from Kim Jong-un
- The three countries carried out maneuvers with a bomber B-1B after the North Korean missile launch Hwasong-19.
- The air forces of all three nations participated by escorting the bomber and simulating attacks.
- The missile test North Korea was supervised by Kim Jong-un and described it as a military advance.
The essential: In a clear response to the recent launch of the Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile, South Korea, the United States and Japan held joint exercises east of the island of Jeju. The show of force included a B-1B strategic bomber, used to simulate an attack. These types of missions, less frequent in recent years, are once again becoming relevant due to the growing tension with North Koreawhich tested the missile under the supervision of Kim Jong-un. The Hwasong-19 reached an altitude of 7,000 kilometers and fell in waters near Japan, which has generated international alarms.
The US B-1B nuclear bomber, South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighters, and Japanese F-2 aircraft participated in the exercises, which carried out a simulation of an attack on a fictitious target (EUROPA PRESS)
South Korea, USA y Japan Combined air exercises were carried out this Sunday that included the participation of a strategic bomber B-1B American, in a coordinated response to the recent launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the regime North Koreareported the south korean army.
The maneuver was carried out over waters east of Jeju Islandlocated south of the Korean peninsula.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) described the actions as a clear “demonstration of force” by the three allied nations in the face of growing provocations by dictator Kim Jong-un.
“This exercise was carried out in response to the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile by North Korea on October 31,” the JCS said in a statement. The institution added that the bomber B-1B was escorted by American, South Korean and Japanese fighter planes, who simulated an attack on a fictitious target, thus highlighting the “overwhelming capacity” of joint forces to carry out decisive military operations.
It was the fourth time this year that the nuclear bomber was sent to the Korean Peninsula, the JCS said, and the second time it participated in a trilateral air exercise.
He B-1Bknown for its load capacity and speed, had been a rare fixture in exercises on the peninsula until last year. However, it has reappeared in the context of a tense geopolitical situation, similar to that of 2017, when the Mutual threats between North Korea and the United States reached alarming levels.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) described the actions as a clear “demonstration of force” by the three allied nations in the face of growing provocations by dictator Kim Jong-un.
The launch of North Korean ICBMidentified as Hwasong-19took place on Thursday and was personally supervised by the Kim Jong-unas reported by the state agency KCNA.
The North Korean dictatorship described the test as a “milestone” in the development of the “absolute superiority” of the country’s armed forces. The missile traveled a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometers from inside North Koreareaching a maximum height of 7,000 kilometers before falling into waters north of Japanaccording to data provided by the authorities of Tokyo and Seoul.
The test of Hwasong-19 It joins a series of highly technological launches carried out by North Korea this year. In 2023, the Kim regime also tested the Hwasong-18another intercontinental ballistic missile that uses solid fuel.
The maneuver was carried out over waters east of Jeju Island, located south of the Korean Peninsula.
This type of fuel allows for a shorter preparation time compared to missiles that use liquid fuel, making early detection of launches more difficult and reducing the window for preemptive strikes.
Given the threat posed by these North Korean advances, the JCS noted the importance of closer coordination between South Korea, the United States and Japan.
“The three nations will continue to strengthen their security cooperation to respond effectively to threats from North Korea,” the statement stated, noting that this is the second trilateral air exercise of the year, designed to strengthen deterrence in the face of the continued expansion of Pyongyang’s weapons capabilities.
(With information from EFE)
