South Korea, US, Japan hold first joint air drills
South Korea, United States, and Japan have successfully conducted their inaugural joint aerial exercises, Seoul's military said.
This collaboration, which featured the participation of a US B-52 bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons, is a testament to the growing synergy among Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo in bolstering their defense capabilities to counter the escalating missile and nuclear threats posed by North Korea.
The US bomber arrived at a South Korean airbase on Tuesday, following a prominent flyover at the nation's most extensive defense exhibition. B-52 bombers, known for their subsonic speeds, can traverse more than 8,800 miles without the need for refueling, reaching altitudes as high as 50,000 feet.
The trilateral exercise unfolded to the south of the Korean Peninsula, where the air defense identification zones of Seoul and Tokyo intersect, as confirmed by the South Korean Air Force. In a statement, the South Korean Air Force declared, 'This marks the first occasion in which the air forces of South Korea, the United States, and Japan have engaged in aerial exercises together.'
The primary objective of this exercise was 'to enhance the collective response capabilities of the three nations in the face of North Korea's mounting nuclear and missile threats,' as emphasized in the official statement. Notably, Pyongyang consistently perceives such joint exercises as rehearsals for a potential invasion and has issued repeated warnings of 'overwhelming' retaliation in response to these activities.
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