In South Korea, a Defense Ministry official in Seoul said a US B-1B strategic bomber will take part in ongoing joint air exercises today, November 5, the final day of the exercise called “Vigilant Storm“. This show of force follows a lightning missile launch by North Korea. The United States and South Korea have warned that a series of launches could culminate in a nuclear test by North Korea, and in response extended their largest-ever military air force drills into Saturday.
Previously, the exercise was originally scheduled from Monday to Friday this week. Pyongyang has stepped up its missile launches to protest US-South Korean drills. Such drills have long angered North Korea, which sees them as training for an invasion. Pyongyang called Vigilant Storm an aggressive and provocative military exercise aimed at North Korea.