US sends 2 bombers to Korean peninsula

Seoul, Nov 3 (IANS) The US has sent two B-1B strategic bombers flying over the Korean peninsula, shortly before President Donald Trump's Asia tour, a media report said.

The two strategic bombers conducted sequenced joint exercises with Japanese and South Korean fighters on Thursday, the US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) said in a statement, Efe news reported.

"The two B-1B Lancers took off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and transited south of Korea and west of Japan to integrate with Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) fighters," the statement said.

"The Lancers then transited overland to Korea to integrate with Republic of Korea fighters in the Yellow Sea. Upon completion of bilateral integration, the aircraft returned to their respective home stations."

According to the statement, the mission was planned in advance and it was not conducted in response to any ongoing event.

However, this show of strength comes on the eve of the start of Trump's Asian tour, which runs from November 5-14, whose agenda will be partly focused on dealing with the North Korean crisis.

The Pyongyang regime's continued testing of weapons, including a nuclear test on September 3, and the belligerent rhetoric of Trump himself have raised regional tension to unprecedented levels since the end of the Korean War (1950-1953).

Washington and Seoul agreed last weekend at their annual security meetings to "enhance rotational deployments of US strategic assets in and around the peninsula", including bomber jets, submarines and nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.