B-1B Bomber Deployed on Korean Peninsula... 'Warning' to North Korea's Trash Balloons

JDAM Drop Training After 7 Years
Strong Warning Sent in Response to North Korea Provocation

The U.S. Air Force B-1B strategic bomber has been deployed to the Korean Peninsula. It conducted joint training with South Korean and U.S. Air Force fighter jets, dropping Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) at a domestic firing range. This is interpreted as sending a strong warning message in response to a series of recent provocations, including North Korea's release of trash balloons toward the South and GPS (Global Positioning System) jamming attacks.

Last February, the South Korea-U.S. joint exercise involving U.S. B-1B strategic bombers [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 5th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that the B-1B strategic bomber conducted joint training over the Korean Peninsula with South Korea’s F-35A, F-15K, and KF-16 fighters, as well as the U.S.’s F-35B and F-16 fighters. This is the first time in seven years since 2017 that the B-1B has conducted JDAM drop training over the Korean Peninsula.

A Ministry of National Defense official explained, "This training was carried out with close cooperation between South Korea and the U.S., focusing on implementing the U.S. extended deterrence commitment, enhancing interoperability, and strengthening the combined defense posture." "In particular, during this training, for the first time in over seven years since 2017, a U.S. strategic bomber was escorted by our Air Force’s F-15K while dropping JDAMs at the Pilseung Firing Range, demonstrating precision strike capability against deep targets."

He added, "Our Air Force’s F-15K also conducted live-fire exercises simultaneously, showing a posture capable of immediate, strong, and relentless retaliation against any provocations from North Korea, as well as demonstrating a robust combined defense posture to deter and respond to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats."

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