For the first time in their history, South Korea, Japan and the United States are carrying out a joint air military exercise this Sunday, October 22. It is a symbol of the new trilateral relationship that has been developing over the past year in the face of growing tensions with North Korea. The huge American long-range bomber B-52 Stratofortress, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, is participating in this exercise accompanied by Japanese and South Korean fighters.
1 min
With our correspondent in Seoul, Nicolas Rocca
This is the first time these three nations have met in the air. While South Korea and Japan have each conducted air exercises with their American ally, they have not yet carried out joint maneuvers. This exercise follows the meeting between the three countries at Camp David this summer. The trio had announced that they wanted to strengthen their security cooperation against North Korea.
Deterrence
Exceptional element, the American strategic bomber B-52 Stratofortress, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, is present during this deployment. Although it has already flown over South Korea during previous exercises, it landed on Korean soil for the first time on Tuesday as part of the international arms exhibition in Seoul.
Symbol
His arrival is a way for the United States to display its nuclear deterrence on the Korean peninsula. For Seoul and Tokyo, this exercise is a new symbol of their rapprochement in the face of the North Korean threat. Earlier in October, the navies of the three countries also carried out a joint exercise for the first time in seven years.
Read alsoPyongyang condemns visit of US aircraft carrier “Ronald Reagan” to South Korea