B-52 Bomber's First Landing on the Korean Peninsula... "Unbreakable ROK-US Alliance"

Nuclear Weapons Capable... First Domestic Landing Site Revealed
US: "We Will Fly Anytime If Needed"

The U.S. strategic bomber B-52H 'Stratofortress' has landed on the Korean Peninsula for the first time. The B-52H is a representative U.S. strategic asset capable of nuclear armament, and publicly revealing the landing site is interpreted as a strong warning message to North Korea, which is focused on nuclear and missile development.

According to the U.S. Forces Korea on the 19th, the B-52H deployed to the Korean Peninsula this week performed a congratulatory flight at the opening ceremony of the aerospace and defense industry exhibition 'Seoul ADEX 2023' held at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on the 17th, conducted joint air training with the ROK Air Force F-35A stealth fighters, and then moved to an air force base located in Cheongju, Chungbuk. This is the first time a B-52H has landed at a ROK Air Force base.

The image of the U.S. strategic bomber B-52H 'Stratofortress,' which landed for the first time at our Air Force base, was released to the media on the 19th.
[Photo by Defense Daily]

At the site open to the media that day, the U.S. military expressed their impressions of visiting Korea next to the massive B-52H aircraft, which is 48 meters long, has a wingspan of 56 meters, and a height of 12 meters. Vanessa Wilcox, Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the U.S. Air Force 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, said, "It took just over 19 hours flying nonstop from the U.S.," and added, "We participated in Seoul ADEX to continuously build and maintain the ironclad partnership with Korea." She is also the first female commander of the 96th Bomb Squadron.

Lt. Col. Wilcox emphasized, "I have visited the Pacific region several times and had opportunities to operate integrated missions across the entire area," and said, "Landing at a Korean air force base for the first time means that we have truly established an 'integrated partnership' with Korea." She also stated, "Another flight is scheduled near the end of Seoul ADEX," and reiterated, "Our goal is to pursue continuous stability throughout the Indo-Pacific region and maintain our partnership with Korea."

The image of the U.S. strategic bomber B-52H 'Stratofortress,' which landed for the first time at our Air Force base, was released to the media on the 19th.
[Photo by Defense Daily]

Rachel Buttrose, Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. 7th Air Force in Korea, explained, "One of the advantages of participating in the air show (Seoul ADEX) is that we can show all Korean citizens that 'we can fly in from the U.S. anytime.'"

The first domestic landing of the B-52H strategic bomber was carried out following an agreement between the ROK and U.S. military authorities to operate U.S. strategic assets at a level equivalent to 'permanent deployment' as part of strengthening extended deterrence capabilities.

The B-52 is considered one of the U.S. Air Force's three major strategic bombers along with the B-1B 'Lancer' and B-2 'Spirit,' and is regarded as the U.S. strategic asset most feared by North Korea. Since its first flight in 1952, the B-52 has remained active in its current upgraded 'H model.' The B-52H that flew to the Korean Peninsula this time was manufactured in 1963. The B-52H can carry up to 31 tons of bombs, including air-to-ground missiles equipped with nuclear warheads with a range approaching 200 km, and is known to be capable of flying over 6,400 km to bomb targets and return.

The appearance of the U.S. strategic bomber B-52H 'Stratofortress,' which landed for the first time at our Air Force base, was revealed to the media on the 19th.
[Photo by Defense Daily]

Staff Sergeant Josiah Quizanik, responsible for the B-52H mission systems maintenance, explained, "The B-52 is the largest bomber, equipped with multiple communication and navigation systems, close-range satellite communication radar, and Global Positioning System (GPS)." He said, "It can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons," but did not comment on whether the aircraft deployed to the Korean Peninsula this time was actually nuclear-armed. The U.S. military typically neither confirms nor denies the nuclear armament status of strategic assets.

Meanwhile, before the media tour of the B-52H that day, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Seung-gyeom, along with Air Force Chief of Staff Jeong Sang-hwa, U.S. Pacific Air Forces Commander Kenneth Wilsbach, and U.S. 7th Air Force Commander Scott Pleus, visited the site to inspect the B-52H and check its operational readiness. Chairman Kim evaluated, "The deployment of the B-52H strategic bomber this time is an example that once again demonstrates the U.S.'s ironclad commitment to the defense of the Korean Peninsula and extended deterrence pledge amid the escalating nuclear threat from the adversary."

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