U.S. strategic bombers flying from Guam linked up with Japanese and South Korean fighter jets Sunday in a display of the allies' ability to project "overwhelming force" after North Korea's second successful test of an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said that the 10-hour "sequenced bilateral missions," which involved two U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers and Air Self-Defense Force and South Korean Air Force fighters, were a "direct response" to North Korea's ICBM launches on July 4 and Friday.
"North Korea remains the most urgent threat to regional stability," Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy said in a statement. "Diplomacy remains the lead; however, we have a responsibility to our allies and our nation to showcase our unwavering commitment while planning for the worst-case scenario. If called upon, we are ready to respond with rapid, lethal, and overwhelming force at a time and place of our choosing."