U.S. holds air exercises with Asian nations following North Korean missile test
The United States held a series of joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan on Sunday. The drills come just one day after North Korea fired an ICBM off the Korean Peninsula during a test launch.
The exercise involved F-35A stealth fighters and F-15K jets from South Korea, together with F-16 American fighters, escorting a U.S. strategic bomber.
"The training this time demonstrated the South Korea-U.S. combined defense capabilities and posture featuring the alliance's overwhelming forces," the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement to the Yonhap News Agency, adding that the countries showed off "the timely and immediate deployment of the U.S.' extended deterrence assets to the Korean Peninsula."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In a separate exercise, Japan flew F-15s over the Sea of Japan along with American B-1 bombers and F-16 fighters. In a statement obtained by Reuters, the Japanese Defense Ministry said the drill "reaffirms the strong will between Japan and the United States to respond to any situation...and further strengthens the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance."
The exercises followed the confirmed launch of an ICBM by North Korea on Saturday. The missile was fired from the nation's capital of Pyongyang and landed in Japanese waters. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile was believed to have a range of around 8,700 miles, per The Washington Post, meaning "the entire United States would be within its range."
North Korean officials had also threatened the United States with further action if the joint exercises were conducted.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said via the state-run Korean Central News Agency that the United States "is deceiving the world" and should "think carefully for your prospective safety."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 21, 2024
Daily Briefing Palestinian death toll reportedly passes 25,000, top Biden adviser to travel to Egypt and Qatar for hostage talks, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 20, 2024
Daily Briefing Grand jury reportedly convened to investigate Uvalde shooting response, families protest outside Netanyahu's house as pressure mounts for hostage deal, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 15, 2024
Daily Briefing Freezing Iowa caucuses to mark first voting of 2024 election, subzero temperatures place stranglehold on much of US, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 14, 2024
Daily Briefing Israel and Hamas mark 100th day of war, GOP candidates campaign on final day before Iowa caucuses, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 13, 2024
Daily Briefing Winter storm blankets large swath of northern United States, more than 30 Palestinians killed during overnight airstrike in Gaza, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 7, 2024
Daily Briefing White House reportedly left unaware of defense secretary’s hospitalization, Biden to deliver State of the Union address on March 7, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: January 6, 2024
Daily Briefing Supreme Court to rule on Trump being kept off 2024 presidential ballots, Hezbollah fires rockets toward Israel following Hamas leader’s death, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
10 things you need to know today: December 17, 2023
Daily Briefing Putin rejects Biden's claim that Russia will attack NATO, Israel ramps up bombardments of Gaza overnight, and more
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published