Boeing (Rockwell) B-1B Lancer strategic bombers flew over South Korea on 21 September in the latest demonstration of Washington’s defence commitment to Seoul following North Korea’s fifth nuclear test on 9 September, according to US Forces Korea (USFK).
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The South Korean Defense Department told CNN the plans aren’t direct preparations for North Korea and that it will also work on a mock “sudden missile attack”.
South Korean Air Force Operational Commander Lt. Gen.
“Should the enemy provoke us once again, the Combined Air Forces will respond and eliminate their will and capability to fight”, Lee Wang-kuen was quoted as saying.
In case the North succeeds in launching ballistic missiles from mobile launch pads left intact despite a barrage of air strikes by the South and the U.S., Patriot surface-to-air missiles will be launched to intercept incoming missiles from the North in accordance with the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) operation to protect Seoul and its surrounding areas.
Both bombers landed just 25 miles south of North Korea’s capital after flying over a U.S. live-fire training site in the Pocheon area bordering the North.
Originally developed for nuclear capacities, the bomber was converted to its exclusively conventional combat role in the mid-1990s.
The move is aimed at reaffirming Washington’s commitment to providing Seoul with extended deterrence amid Pyongyang’s growing missile and nuclear threats, the report said.
Several B-1B Lancers were reportedly dispatched to the Andersen base in Guam in early August from Ellsworth air base in South Dakota to replace B-52 strategic bombers.
It is capable of carrying the largest payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the US Air Force inventory. South Korea and Washington say the defense mechanism is exclusively aimed at North Korea.
North Korea’s fifth nuclear test has been followed by universal condemnation and joint U.S. It announced a ground test of a long-range rocket engine Tuesday that could be used to launch a satellite into space.
This latest show of strength from the United States comes just over a week after it sent two B-1Bs to South Korea on September 13.
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Citing military sources, local media reported Wednesday that North Korea has covered up second and third shafts at the Punggye-ri test site.
