USA: According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, the US and South Korea conducted joint aerial exercises on Monday in the waters to the west of the peninsula, with the Pentagon sending a nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bomber to take part.
According to the ministry, the bomber flew in formation with South Korean F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets during the exercise over the Yellow Sea. The US had just three days earlier sent B-1B heavy bombers to the area, according to the South Korean military.
The US B-52H strategic bomber's arrival on the Korean Peninsula "demonstrates the allies' decisive, overwhelming capabilities and posture to deter and respond to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats," according to a statement from the military.
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A B-52H bomber was previously sent to the Korean Peninsula by the Pentagon in December. This latest show of force comes in advance of the important joint US-South Korean exercise Freedom Shield, which is scheduled to take place from March 13 to 23.
The exercises, which will involve both aerial training and amphibious landings, are expected to grow to be the largest joint drill in at least five years.
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A second drill known as Warrior Shield is scheduled to take place after the main exercise. On Friday, Colonel Isaac Taylor, a spokesman for US Forces Korea, told reporters in Seoul that the wargames would incorporate "lessons learned from recent wars and conflicts" and be aimed at enhancing the US and South Korea's ability to respond to alleged North Korean "aggression."
Despite repeated protests from Pyongyang, which warned that such drills could be interpreted as a "declaration of war" and result in "unprecedentedly persistent and strong counteractions,"
the US and South Korea chose to hold the exercises. North Korea wrote to the UN on Sunday, pleading with it to put a complete stop to the drills.
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The UN and the international community have been urged by Pyongyang to "strongly urge the US and South Korea to immediately cease their provocative remarks and joint military exercises," according to a statement from the DPRK's Foreign Ministry's top official, Kim Son-gyong, which was carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).