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Yesterday (the 1st), just one day after the discussions between the defense ministers of Korea and the United States, strategic bombers and fighter jets from the US Air Force flew to the Korean Peninsula and held their first joint training of the year.

The Ministry of National Defense unusually disclosed the location of the training in the West Sea, which seems to have aimed at the effect of simultaneously pressing North Korea and China.



Kim Tae-hoon is a defense reporter.



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Two B-1B Lancer strategic bombers from the US Air Force and F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters from South Korea and the US are flying in a triangle formation.



This is the first joint training of the ROK and US Air Force strategic assets held yesterday afternoon this year.



It's been three months since the B-1B Lancer alone, but it's been two months since the B-52 at the end of the year for strategic bomber deployment.



In accordance with the ROK-US policy to expand the deployment of strategic assets, strategic bombers are flying in once a month.



The Ministry of National Defense usually announced that the strategic bomber training site was 'around the Korean Peninsula', but this time it was unusually revealed as 'over the West Sea'.



[Jeon Ha-gyu/Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson: Focusing on enhancing interoperability and the ability of the air forces of the two countries to conduct combined operations against North Korean nuclear and missile threats in the West Sea...

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It is interpreted as an intention to pressure North Korea and China at the same time by sending a large number of strategic assets to the West Sea, which is close to North Korea and which China considers sensitive.



[Michael Gilday/U.S. Navy Chief of Staff (January 12): We are well aware that the West Sea is a hot button.

If we are to conduct exercises in the West Sea, we will have to deliver accurate messages in accordance with the specific purpose.]



Through a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, North Korea protested by saying that it would respond super-strongly to the ROK-US policy to expand the deployment of strategic assets and strengthen extended deterrence.



In response, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered, saying, "North Korea is raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula," and the US White House adjusted the level, saying, "The US has no hostile intentions toward North Korea, and the joint training is not a provocation against North Korea."



(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, Video editing: Jung Sung-hoon, CG: Choi Jae-young)