US bombers conduct 1st nighttime drills with SDF, S. Korea fighters

October 11, 2017

WASHINGTON/SEOUL- Two US strategic bombers conducted drills separately with Japanese and South Korean fighter jets over the Sea of Japan and the Korean Peninsula on Tuesday night, the US Pacific Air Forces said the same day.

US bombers flew over the peninsula for the first time since Sept. 23, at a time when North Korea are showing signs of carrying out further provocations, such as an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.

The forces and other sources said that the B-1B bombers took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and held drills with two F-15 fighters of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force over the Sea of Japan and two F-15 jets of the South Korean air force over the sea and the peninsula.

It was the first time for a US bomber to conduct combined nighttime training with Japanese and South Korean fighters, the Pacific forces said.

According to the South Korean military, the B-1B bombers held simulated air-to-ground missile-firing drills over the sea after entering South Korea's air defense identification zone and flew across the peninsula to conduct similar drills over the Yellow Sea.

"This (the drills) is a clear demonstration of our ability to conduct seamless operations with all of our allies anytime anywhere," US Air Force Maj. Patrick Applegate said. Jiji Press