u.s Boomer

U.S. Bomber Flies With Japanese, Korean Jets in Show of Force

The U.S. deployed a B-1B Lancer bomber to the Korean peninsula Wednesday as part of a joint exercise with South Korea involving 230 warplanes, Yonhap News said, citing an unidentified source.

A similar drill in September saw the aircraft fly the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, of any U.S. fighter or bomber in the 21st century. This prompted Pyongyang to say it had the right to shoot down U.S. strategic warplanes in international airspace as part of its right to self-defense under the United Nations charter.

Fighter jets take part in a Vigilant air combat exercise in Pyeongtaek, South Korea on Dec. 6.Photographer: Kim Hong-Ji-Pool/Getty Images

The U.S. Pacific Air Forces spokeswoman Lori Hodge said the bomber first flew from Guam to the west of Japan, where it integrated with two Japanese F-15 fighters. It then joined the Vigilant Ace drills on the Korean peninsula, where it flew with other U.S. and South Korean aircraft.

"The U.S. and its regional allies and partners have long conducted routine exercises to maintain readiness and demonstrate the strength of their alliances," Hodge said. "Building strong relationships and promoting allies and partners’ capacity for security ensures effective U.S. presence and demonstrates our regional commitment.”

The long-range, multi-mission supersonic aircraft would conduct bombing drills with South Korean fighter jets, Yonhap said earlier. The drills involve 230 aircraft and 12,000 American troops, in what North Korea has dubbed the largest-ever joint aerial exercise.