'North Korea Space Launch Vehicle Response' B-1B Deployed to Korean Peninsula... 10th Time This Year

Part of UFS Exercise... 10th US Bomber Participation Training
Military: "Timely Deployment of US Strategic Assets Against North Korean Projectiles"

Six days after North Korea launched a space launch vehicle it claims carried a 'reconnaissance satellite,' a U.S. Air Force B-1B strategic bomber was deployed to the Korean Peninsula. The deployment of the U.S. strategic bomber to the Korean Peninsula comes one month after the 'nuclear bomber' B-52H participated in joint air exercises last month, marking the 10th such deployment this year.

On the 30th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that under the deployment of the U.S. Air Force B-1B strategic bomber to the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean and U.S. air forces conducted joint air exercises. The B-1B strategic bomber is considered the most feared strategic asset by North Korea, capable of dropping a large amount of bombs in a single sortie. It can fly at Mach 1.25 (1,530 km/h), meaning it can reach the skies over Pyongyang from the Pacific Guam base in just over two hours.

US Air Force B-1B strategic bomber

The exercise was conducted over the West Sea as part of the joint outdoor maneuver exercise (FTX) 'Warrior's Shield (WS)' during this year's second half South Korea-U.S. combined military exercise 'Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS),' which began on the 21st. The exercise involved South Korea's FA-50 fighter jets and the U.S. Air Force's F-16 fighter jets. Previously, on the 13th of last month, the B-52H 'Stratofortress,' capable of carrying nuclear weapons, was deployed.

A military official stated, "This exercise, in particular, demonstrated the timely coordination and deployment of U.S. strategic assets in response to North Korea's recent claim of a 'space launch vehicle,' showcasing the operationalization of extended deterrence and a robust combined defense posture." He added, "Under the escort of the South Korean and U.S. air forces, the U.S. strategic bomber carried out key missions, providing an opportunity to confirm the excellent combined operational capabilities of the South Korea-U.S. alliance."

Meanwhile, North Korea failed again on the 24th in its attempt to launch a space launch vehicle it claimed carried a 'reconnaissance satellite.' Following the attempt in May this year, the re-launch three months later also failed, causing Kim Jong-un to lose face significantly. With the consecutive failures of the reconnaissance satellite, considered a core element of the 'completion of the nuclear force system,' the leadership's burden has increased. North Korea is expected to attempt a third launch around the 'Workers' Party Foundation Day' in October.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.