North Korea: US bombers conduct military drill

The US has conducted a joint military exercise with South Korea as two strategic bombers flew over the North

The bombers took off from Guam and flew over the East Sea and Yellow Sea (Photo: BBC)
The bombers took off from Guam and flew over the East Sea and Yellow Sea (Photo: BBC)

US President Donald Trump could soon find himself confronting North Korean soldiers, amid reports that Trump is considering a visit to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) during his forthcoming trip to the South.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, the DMZ, which has separated the two Koreas since the end of the 1950-1953 war, was among the candidate sites for Trump’s tour of Asia. He is said to also be visiting Japan, Vietnam, China and the Philippines.

The report coincided with a second report, of the US showing aerial strength in the region.

Two supersonic B-1B bombers flew over the peninsula on Wednesday night, according to the US military. Two South Korean F-15K fighters, alongside Japanese fighters, joined the drill after bombers took off from Andersen airbase in Guam, said the statement. It was reportedly the first time South Korea and Japan both joined US bombers on a night-time combine exercise.

North Korean soldiers (right) look at the South side in the demilitarised zone on the border between North and South Korea (Photo: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP)
North Korean soldiers (right) look at the South side in the demilitarised zone on the border between North and South Korea (Photo: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP)

The bombers carried out air-to-ground missile drills in waters off the east coast of South Korea, then repeated the drill over waters separating China and the South, said South Korean joint chiefs of staff.

South Korea’s military described the exercise as a regular drill to bolster the country’s defences and demonstrate the strength of Seoul’s security alliance with Washington in the face of North Korean ballistic missile and nuclear tests.

US Air Force Major Patrick Applegate said: “Flying and training at night with our allies in a safe, effective manner is an important capability shared between the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and hones the tactical prowess of each nation’s aviators.

“This is a clear demonstration of our ability to conduct seamless operations with all of our allies anytime, anywhere.”

North Korea, however, views the drills as highly provocative.

The White House sent a team of working-level officials to South Korea late last month to view possible sites for inclusion in Trump’s itinerary, Yonhap said, citing an unnamed South Korean defence source.

Trump was expected to send a strong message to Pyongyang, either verbally or “kinetically”, during his first trip to the peninsula as president, the source was quoted as saying. “[He] will likely do something like that and his aides are making the relevant preparations.”

If the visit goes ahead, Trump would probably spend time at the Panmunjom truce village and an observation post inside the DMZ, the source said. The White House has not commented on the reports.