Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers, along with Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighters and the Republic of Korea Air Force fighters, participated in a sequenced bilateral mission near the Korean peninsula on Thursday.
The B-1 bombers flew from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and flew with the Japanese and Korean jets over South Korea as part of the planned exercise.
The “continuous bomber presence mission” had been scheduled ahead of time and was “not in response to any current event,” Air Force spokesperson Capt. Candice Dillitte said, according to CNN.
As tensions with a belligerent North Korea escalate, U.S. B-1 bombers have been engaging in these missions more frequently, eliciting escalating criticism from Pyongyang.
“The gangster-like US imperialists are ceaselessly resorting to their frantic nuclear threat and blackmail to stifle the DPRK with nukes at any cost,” a post from KCNA, the state-run media outlet, said.
“On Thursday they let a formation of B-1B nuclear strategic bombers stationed at the Anderson Air Force Base on Guam stealthily fly into South Korea again to stage a surprise nuclear strike drill targeting the DPRK.”
B-1 bombers are not actually nuclear-capable.
The U.S. has bolstered its military presence by the Korean peninsula as Trump is planning to visit the area next week.
The U.S., Japan, and South Korea pressed Pyongyang to “refrain from irresponsible provocations” and abandon developing nuclear weapons on Monday.
North Korea has conducted a series of nuclear tests, the largest one occurring on Sept. 3. Pyongyang has also tested intermediate-range missiles a number of times this year.
In response, the U.S. and the international community have issued multiple new rounds of sanctions against North Korea this year.
