US stages aerial exercise with South Korea and Japan after North Korean missile test

Asia-Pacific, News February 21, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. Air Force held a bilateral aerial exercise with the South Korean military on February 20, 2023, also involving strategic bombers from Japan. The exercise comes only one day after North Korea tested a Hwasong-15 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) without warning.

The long-range ballistic missile test from North Korea came on February 19, 2023. This was the first ballistic missile test carried out by North Korea since the start of this year. According to Japanese authorities, the missile fell into the waters inside the Japanese Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) after traveling for more than one hour after its initial launch.

According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missiles were fired at steep angles and flew around 500 kilometers before falling into the Sea of Japan. Based on its trajectory, the missile appeared to have a range of more than 14,000 kilometers sufficient to reach the U.S. mainland. It was one of the largest Hwasong-15 missiles tested by North Korea. Tokyo said that the missile did not cause any damage to the ships and vessels inside the EEZ.

In response to North Korea’s first missile test in 2023, the U.S. and its Asian allies conducted a large-scale aerial exercise that involved South Korea’s F-35A, F-15K, and U.S. F-16 fighters escorted by American B-1B bombers. The joint aerial exercise was aimed at demonstrating the allies’ defense capabilities and readiness posture.

Japan flew its F-15s over the Sea of Japan with the U.S. B-1 bombers and F-16 fighter jets in tactical exercises. Japan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that the security environment in the region is becoming “increasingly severe”, especially after the latest North Korean missile tests that landed within EEZ.

“This bilateral exercise reaffirms the strong will between Japan and the United States to respond to any situation, the readiness of (Japan’s Self Defense Forces) and U.S. Armed Forces, and further strengthens the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance,” the ministry said in its statement.

*^{North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, along with his daughter, walks away from an intercontinental ballistic missile. (Image Credit: KCNA/via AP)}*

Nuclear-armed North Korea fired an unprecedented number of missiles last year, including ICBMs that can strike anywhere in the continental United States. North Korea is also actively working on resuming preparations for its first nuclear test since 2017.

North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs are banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions, but Pyongyang says its weapons development is necessary to counter “hostile policies” by Washington and its allies.

Last week, the North Korean military displayed almost a dozen of advance Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) in one of its largest military parades. Experts say that this was the largest show of power that Pyongyang has put up in ages.