The United States deployed a B-1B Lancer, a supersonic heavy bomber, to Northeast Asia for a joint exercise with South Korea and Japan. The move is in response to North Korea’s recent test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) called the Hwasong-19.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally observed the missile test, which reportedly has a range exceeding 9,300 miles, theoretically putting the U.S. mainland within reach. The missile set a new altitude record for North Korean launches, reaching approximately 4,350 miles—more than 17 times the height of the International Space Station.
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In the joint exercise, the B-1B Lancer was joined by four Japanese F-2 fighters, four South Korean F-15Ks, and three U.S. F-16s stationed in South Korea. Originally capable of carrying nuclear payloads, the Lancer was converted to all-conventional strike missions in 2011. With a maximum payload capacity of up to 75,000 pounds, it remains the heaviest conventional bomber in the U.S. fleet.
🇺🇸 – 🇯🇵 – 🇰🇷 fighter aircraft escort a B-1 Lancer during a trilateral escort flight Nov. 3, 2024. This exercise continues strong trilateral cooperation, enabling immediate response to regional security challenges.
— U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (@INDOPACOM) November 3, 2024
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The exercise demonstrated the collective strength and readiness of the U.S., South Korea and Japan, showcasing their commitment to regional security. South Korean officials described the B-1B’s presence as a display of “overwhelming” power and reiterated Seoul’s stance on close cooperation with the U.S. and Japan in addressing North Korean threats.
According to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the exercise supported a shared vision for a secure, rules-based Indo-Pacific region, showing the allies’ capability for rapid response to any security challenge. This deployment marks the fourth U.S. bomber mission in the region this year.
In June, a B-1B conducted a similar exercise, dropping live 500-pound bombs over the Korean Peninsula—the first live munition drop in the area by the Lancer in over seven years. In August, two B-1Bs flew a non-stop, 12,456-mile round trip from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to Japan and back, completing the journey in approximately 31 hours.
