Exercise in Response to North Korea's Latest Missile Launch
BY STEPHEN KRUISER - 4 HOURS AGO 7-30-17
RE:
http://ijr.com/the-declaration/2017/...issile-launch/
After North Korea's latest bold missile test (Thanks, Bill Clinton!), President Donald Trump and America's military are not being coy about their displeasure.
The president took to Twitter to go off on China's lack of help with the growing problem that North Korea presents.
More from ABC News:
The U.S. flew two bombers over the Korean peninsula Saturday in a show of force “in direct response” to North Korea's announcement that it conducted on Friday another test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said.
Two U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers, under the command of U.S. Pacific Air Forces, joined their South Korean and Japanese air force counterparts in a sequenced bilateral mission, according to a press release.
“This mission is in direct response to North Korea's escalatory launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles on July 3 and July 28,” the press release explained of the 10-hour mission.
It's unclear whether North Korean leadership is social media savvy, but the PACAF Twitter account isn't mincing words:
The PACAF statement provided some details:
After taking off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, the B-1s flew to Japanese airspace, where they were joined by two Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self Defense Force) F-2 fighter jets. The B-1s then flew over the Korean Peninsula where they were joined by four Republic of Korea Air Force F-15 fighter jets. The B-1s then performed a low-pass over Osan Air Base, South Korea, before leaving South Korean airspace and returning to Guam.
Throughout the approximately 10-hour mission, the aircrews practiced intercept and formation training, enabling them to improve their combined capabilities and tactical skills, while also strengthening the long standing military-to-military relationships in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
The precise motives of the North Korean regime are always a mystery, but its brazenness is plainly growing and has probably been emboldened by its last two missile test launches. How the United States and our allies should deal with it is a work in progress, too.
A pre-emptive strike has been ruled out in the past, but Trump may see things differently. While some on the left lament “militarizing” the White House, this is probably a good time to have as many generals as possible counseling the president.