The United States flew the B-1B bomber during an aerial exercise with other American and Korean fighters on Tuesday. South Korea’s Ministry of Defense has said the training is intended to demonstrate the comprehensive deterrence capabilities of the two countries against North Korea’s forward nuclear program.
The United States and South Korea often hold common military exercises, which they describe as defensive. But North Korea sees it as an invasion rehearsal and is particularly sensitive to the United States mobilizing strategic assets such as long-term bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines.
“Recent U.S. military operations are an open threat to our national security and a serious provocation that raises military tensions in the region to extreme dangerous levels,” a North Korean Defense Department spokesperson said in a statement published in state media.
Rock represents the Republic of Korea, the official name of South Korea.
The statement warned that U.S. actions would inevitably undermine U.S. security, and said North Korea “will use powerful forces to stop the U.S. active efforts to permanently resolve elements of malignant instability in the security environment of the region.” North Korea often tests the U.S. flyover of B-1B bombers, which is capable of carrying a large number of conventional weapons. Hostility on the Korean Peninsula is rising as North Korea continues to conduct weapons testing aimed at modernizing its nuclear arsenal and supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine by providing weapons and troops.
Since the inauguration, President Donald Trump has repeatedly boasted about his personal connections with Kim Jong Il and expressed his willingness to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to revive diplomacy.
On March 31, Trump called Kim “a very smart man” and North Korea “a big nuclear power.” Trump said he and Kim had “good relationships” and “communicated”, and despite no known public negotiations, North Korea has not yet publicly responded to Trump’s outreach.
