North Korea Fires New ICBM... US Strategic Bombers Deploy to Korean Peninsula After 9 Days

The U.S. 'nuclear bomber' B-52H (Stratofortress) deployed to the Korean Peninsula within 9 days and conducted a joint air exercise with South Korea. This is evaluated as a strong warning message aimed at North Korea, which carried out a test launch of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

On the 14th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that under the deployment of the B-52H strategic bomber to the Korean Peninsula, South Korea and the U.S. conducted a joint air exercise. The exercise, held over the Korean Peninsula, involved South Korea’s F-35A and F-15K fighters along with the U.S. F-16 fighters. The deployment of the B-52H strategic bomber to the Korean Peninsula occurred just 9 days after the previous deployment on the 5th.

The South Korean and U.S. Air Forces conducted a joint aerial exercise over the Korean Peninsula on the 14th, involving South Korea's F-35A fighter jets and the U.S.'s B-52H strategic bombers and F-16 fighter jets. [Photo by Ministry of National Defense]

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The South Korean and U.S. air forces reaffirmed through this exercise the rapid deployment capability of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula, enhanced joint operational capabilities, and interoperability, the military explained. It was especially evaluated as a close and coordinated response demonstrating the strong 'power of the alliance' against North Korea’s recent consecutive provocations and showing the U.S.’s commitment to extended deterrence.

The B-52H strategic bomber, along with the U.S. aircraft carrier recently visiting the Korean Peninsula, is considered a representative strategic asset and is sometimes called one of the 'three major strategic bombers' along with the B-1B and B-2. Notably, it can carry nuclear weapons, including air-to-ground nuclear missiles with a range of 200 km, and can carry up to 31 tons of bombs, flying over 6,400 km to bomb targets.

A military official emphasized, "Going forward, South Korea and the U.S. will demonstrate the strong will of the alliance in action by increasing the frequency and intensity of U.S. strategic asset deployments, making it clear that any nuclear attack by North Korea will not be tolerated."

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