South Korea and the United States carry out a military exercise featuring B-1B bombers and fighter aircraft

The U.S. and South Korean armed forces carried out an aerial exercise featuring at least one U.S. B-1B bomber alongside several fighter jets, marking the first joint air force drill during President Donald Trump’s second term.

According to Seoul’s Defense Ministry, the exercise included South Korean F-35 and F-15 fighter jets as well as American F-16s, although the exact number of aircraft was not disclosed. The training aimed to showcase U.S. deterrence capabilities against North Korean nuclear and missile threats and to enhance the interoperability of South Korean and U.S. military forces, as stated by the ministry.

In recent years, South Korea and the United States have intensified their joint military exercises and expanded trilateral drills with Japan in response to escalating North Korean nuclear threats, while refining their defense strategies that incorporate U.S. strategic assets. These drills have increasingly featured advanced U.S. weaponry, including long-range bombers, aircraft carriers, and submarines.

Tensions have reached a peak as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un continues to showcase his military nuclear capabilities and strengthen ties with Russia amid President Vladimir Putin’s conflict in Ukraine, disregarding appeals from the United States and neighboring Asian countries to resume denuclearization talks.

On Tuesday, North Korea condemned Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo for their “absurd” objective of denuclearizing the North, asserting its intention to expand its nuclear arsenal under Kim’s leadership. This statement followed a meeting of the top diplomats from the U.S., South Korea, and Japan at a security conference in Germany, where they reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing military cooperation and reinforcing international sanctions to counter Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.