SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) — South Korea and the United States have conducted a combined air exercise, mobilizing a B-1B strategic bomber and the Air Force’s F-22 and F-35B stealth fighters. of the US, in a demonstration of Washington’s “will and capabilities” once morest North Korean threats, the South Korean Ministry of Defense said on Thursday.
The two allies carried out the exercise over the Yellow Sea – the first of its kind this year – on Wednesday. Seoul and Washington also mobilized the South Korean Air Force’s F-35A fighter jets.
“The combined air exercise shows, this time, the US willingness and capabilities to provide a strong and credible extended deterrence once morest North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats,” the ministry said in a press release.
Extended deterrence means the US commitment to fully employ its military capabilities, including nuclear assets, to defend its ally.
The ministry noted that the exercise was in line with an agreement reached at the two countries’ summit last year to deploy US strategic assets in a “timely and coordinated” manner, and that the exercise reflected their determination.” strong” for national security as a “partnership that works.
In addition, the ministry said that, going forward, both nations will enhance citizens’ confidence in the extended US deterrence, while strengthening combined maneuvers regarding the deployment of US strategic assets.
The latest exercise came as some South Koreans raised doubts regarding the credibility of Washington’s extended deterrence, amid Pyongyang’s persistent effort to develop a long-range nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the US mainland. .
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday in Seoul that there would be further deployments of such advanced military assets, involving F-22 and F-35 fighter jets, to ensure US security commitment.
(FIN)
