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U.S. B-1 bombers conduct drills with S. Korean fighters amid tensions on Korean Peninsula

Xinhua, May 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

Two U.S. strategic bombers had conducted air force drills with South Korean fighter jets amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday.

An unnamed South Korean military source was quoted as saying two B-1 Lancer supersonic bombers carried out air force trainings over the peninsula for two to three hours on Monday.

The U.S. bombers reportedly departed from the U.S. Anderson air base in Guam and arrived at South Korea's east waters at about noon on Monday.

The supersonic bombers conducted joint exercises with several F-15K fighter jets of South Korea, before staging a separate drill with fighter jets from the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, which was recently sent to the peninsula.

Then, the bombers flew to the west waters of South Korea to drop target-practice bombs at the training ground.

The sortie, made by one of the three key U.S. strategic bombers including B-2 and B-52 bombers, came amid the rising tensions on the peninsula.

USS Carl Vinson has been sailing in waters off the peninsula after the U.S.-South Korea joint annual war games which ended at the end of April.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) denounced the war games as a rehearsal for invasion.

China has said that efforts on non-proliferation and promotion of peace talks have to be strengthened so as to bring the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula to a peaceful settlement.

The Trump administration of the United States has said that all options are on the table to resolve the DPRK's nuclear program. Endit