S. Korea, US, Japan stage joint air drills involving B-52 bomber
The exercise took place over international waters off the southern South Korean island of Jeju and involved at least one US B-52H bomber as well as the South's KF-16 and Japan's F-2 fighters, according to the ministry. It marked the strategic bomber's first deployment near the Korean Peninsula this year.
"Based on close coordination, the three countries will cooperate to jointly deter and respond to North Korea's threats while continuing with three-way training," it said in a release.
The exercise came as the top military officers of the three countries convened in Seoul for a regular meeting to discuss the security situation and ways to strengthen their trilateral security cooperation.
South Korea, the US and Japan conducted joint aerial drills on June 18, marking the first such exercise held under the Lee Jae Myung government. (Yonhap)
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