Korean border in show of force
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US Air Force B-1 bombers fly near NKorea in show of force
Two U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers on Saturday flew near the Korean Demilitarized Zone in a show of force just days after North Korea conducted the first successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile that can hit Alaska.
The two B-1 bombers flew 2,000 miles from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam to conduct a precision strike training exercise with South Korean fighter jets. The bombers were also joined by Japanese fighters during their flight.
The Air Force, in a statement, called the mission a "demonstration of the ironclad U.S. commitment to our allies."
The bombers, which can carry 84 500-pound bombs, fired releasing inert weapons at the Pilsung Range. The mission took 10 hours, according to the statement.
"North Korea's actions are a threat to our allies, partners and homeland," Gen. Terrence O' Shaughnessy, the Pacific Air Forces commander, said. "Let me be clear, if called upon we are trained, equipped and ready to unleash the full lethal capability of our allied air forces."