PYONGYANG – The US conducted a joint military exercise with South Korea Tuesday night, flying two strategic bombers over the Korean peninsula apparently to send a strong message to its arch nemesis North Korea.
The B-1B combat bombers were joined by two South Korean F-15K fighter jets that carried out air-to-ground missile drills off South Korean waters.
According to South Korea’s military, the bombers took off from the US Pacific territory of Guam, before entering South Korean airspace and conducting firing exercises over the East Sea and Yellow Sea.
The training was part of a programme of “extended deterrence” against North Korea, it added.
The US said Japan’s air force also took part in the drills that came at a time when Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un are trading barbs regarding the defence capabilities.
In a speech at the UN in September, Mr Trump accused Mr Kim of being ‘on a suicide mission’ while Mr Kim responded by vowing to ‘tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire’.
The military drills follow conduction of sixth nuclear test and launch of two missiles over Japan by Kim lead Korea in recent months.
