An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Aug. 31, 2017

U.S. Fifth-Generation Fighters, Strategic Bombers Conduct Show of Force with Allies in Response to North Korea Missile Launch

By CDR David Benham U.S. Pacific Command

CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii – The United States’ newest and most advanced fighter, the U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II, joined U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers for the first time in a sequenced bilateral mission with Japan and Republic of Korea air forces in Northeast Asia August 30.

 

Two B-1Bs from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; four U.S. Marine F-35Bs from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan; two Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-15Js; and four Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-15Ks executed this mission to emphasize the combined ironclad commitment to the defense of Allies and the U.S. homeland. Enhancing combined military readiness through integrated missions ensures national leaders of viable and ready military options.

 

This mission was conducted in direct response to North Korea’s intermediate-range ballistic missile launch, which flew directly over northern Japan on August 28 amid rising tension over North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile development programs.

 

"North Korea's actions are a threat to our allies, partners and homeland, and their destabilizing actions will be met accordingly,” said Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, Commander, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, who just returned from an unscheduled visit to Japan to meet with his counterparts. “This complex mission clearly demonstrates our solidarity with our allies and underscores the broadening cooperation to defend against this common regional threat. Our forward-deployed force will be the first to the fight, ready to deliver a lethal response at a moment’s notice if our nation calls."

 

Over the course of the 10-hour mission, the F-35Bs, B-1B bombers and Koku Jieitai fighters flew together over waters near Kyushu, Japan. The U.S. and ROKAF aircraft then flew across the Korean Peninsula and practiced attack capabilities by releasing live weapons at the Pilsung Range training area before returning to their respective home stations.

 

"The F-35 embodies our commitment to our allies and contributes to the overall security and stability of the Indo-Asia Pacific region," said Lt. Gen. David H. Berger, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific. "By forward-basing the F-35, the most advanced aircraft in the world, here in the Pacific, we are enabling the Marine Corps to respond quickly during a crisis in support of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and all our regional partners."

 

U.S. Pacific Command maintains strategic bomber and fighter capabilities in the Indo-Asia-Pacific theater, retaining the ability to respond to any regional threat at a moment’s notice.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
362,876
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Travels to Singapore
Singapore Minister of Defence Dr. Ng Eng Hen (left) presents Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, with the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) or Meritorious Service Medal (Military) at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Singapore on March 7, 2024. Signed by Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the award was given for “substantive contributions toward enhancing the strong and longstanding defence relationship between the United States and Singapore” and highlighted Aquilino’s role in increasing regional capacity building efforts, deepening people-to-people ties through inclusivity, and expanding cooperation in the digital domain. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon M. Smith)
March 10, 2024 - SINGAPORE — Adm. John C. Aquilino, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Singapore on an overseas trip from March 6 to 10, to increase shared understanding of regional challenges and strengthen the expansive and...

Freedom Shield 24 begins
Senior leaders from the U.S. 7th Air Force and Republic of Korea Air Force gather for a group photo during a Freedom Shield 24 Battle Field Circulation visit from ROK Gen. Kang, Shin Chul, Combined Forces Command deputy commander, at Osan Air Base, ROK, March 6, 2024. During the event, Kang received an exercise status brief, observed a U.S. F-16 and ROK F-15K static display, and met with 7th Air Force and ROKAF Operations Command leadership. Freedom Shield 24 is an 11-day exercise set to reflect the Korea Theater of Operations – a combined, joint, multi-domain and interagency operating environment, scheduled for March 4-14, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elizabeth Davis)
March 8, 2024 - The ROK and U.S. are conducting Freedom Shield 2024, an 11-day exercise set to reflect the Korea Theater of Operations – a combined, joint, multi-domain, and interagency operating environment. The exercise began March 4 and...

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Hosts the Defense Senior Enlisted Leader Council
U.S. Navy Fleet Master Chief David Isom, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command senior enlisted leader (CSEL), answers questions about warfighting, leadership perspectives on readiness, and the Total Force structure at an All Call at the Bloch Arena, Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, Mar. 5, 2024. The SEAC convened the Winter 2024 DSELC in Hawaii for top U.S. Armed Forces Enlisted leaders to engage in significant issues like Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education, the Joint Command Senior Enlisted Nominative process, as well as the warfighting and support capabilities of members’ commands in the Joint Force environment.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Randi Brown)
March 8, 2024 - U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) hosted the Defense Senior Enlisted Leader Council (DSELC) in Honolulu, Hawaii, March 4-6, 2024...

Andersen AFB hosts ADA Senior Leader Seminar
Members of the U.S. Air Force, Philippine Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force listen to briefings during the Regional Air Domain Awareness Senior Leader Seminar on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 26, 2024. Throughout the seminar, leaders discussed air domain strategies, policies, terminology and also developed a network of Allies and partners that have a shared understanding of air domain awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Spencer Perkins)
March 7, 2024 - Members of the U.S. Air Force, Indonesian Air Force, Philippine Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force came together to participate in the Regional Air Domain Awareness Senior Leader Seminar on...

Readout of Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner's Meeting with Papua New Guinea's Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso
March 6, 2024 - Department of Defense Spokesman LTC Marty Meiners provided the following readout...