US Strategic Bomber B-52 Lands at Cheongju Air Base

This Is the First Domestic Landing... US-Korea-Japan Joint Exercises Scheduled for the Weekend

The United States Forces Korea (USFK) on the 19th released footage to the media showing the U.S. strategic bomber B-52H 'Stratofortress' landing at Cheongju Air Base. This marks the first time that the B-52H, a representative U.S. strategic bomber capable of nuclear armament, has landed in South Korea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The B-52H deployed to the Korean Peninsula this week participated in a celebratory flight at the opening ceremony of 'Seoul ADEX 2023,' an aerospace and defense industry exhibition held on the 17th at Seongnam Seoul Airport, before moving to and landing at Cheongju Air Base. The first landing of the B-52H strategic bomber at a domestic air force base was made possible following an agreement between South Korean and U.S. defense authorities to operate U.S. strategic assets at a level equivalent to a permanent deployment as part of strengthening extended deterrence capabilities.

On the same day, USFK invited domestic and international media to Cheongju Air Base to showcase the B-52H’s landing, emphasizing the United States’ commitment to the defense of the Korean Peninsula and the fulfillment of its extended deterrence pledge. Extended deterrence, a key element of U.S. security policy, aims to deter attacks by third parties by signaling retaliation if an ally is attacked. It primarily involves deterring nuclear attacks on allies using U.S. nuclear weapons, but also includes deterrence through conventional weapons.

South Korea, the United States, and Japan are scheduled to conduct a joint air exercise this weekend. The training area is expected to include overlapping zones of the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) and the Japanese Air Defense Identification Zone (JADIZ). Although the deployment of Japan Self-Defense Forces to the Korean Peninsula area has previously elicited sensitive reactions domestically, it is anticipated that the involvement of the United States in this exercise will reduce such concerns.

The three countries’ first joint air exercise is intended to demonstrate their joint response capabilities in light of North Korea’s announcement of a third reconnaissance satellite launch scheduled for this month. At the Camp David summit in August, South Korea, the U.S., and Japan pledged to regularize joint exercises and have since conducted maritime joint exercises primarily involving naval forces.

On the same day, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Seung-gyeom visited Cheongju Air Base, where the B-52H was stationed, along with Air Force Chief of Staff Jeong Sang-hwa, U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander Kenneth Wilsbach, and 7th Air Force Commander Scott Pleus.

The B-52H conducted a joint exercise with the Republic of Korea Air Force over the Korean Peninsula on the 17th and is scheduled to participate in the upcoming South Korea-U.S.-Japan joint air exercise over the skies near the Korean Peninsula on the 22nd. The Joint Chiefs of Staff explained, "The deployment of the B-52H strategic bomber to the Korean Peninsula was carried out to regularly visualize and strengthen the execution of the United States’ extended deterrence commitment to the Republic of Korea."

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