U.S. flies long-range bomber in drill with South Korea, Japan in reaction to the North’s missile

The United States, South Korea, and Japan conducted a joint military drill in response to North Korea’s recent test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile. The U.S. flew a B-1B bomber near the Korean Peninsula to show readiness against North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile programs. This was the second trilateral training this year. The U.S. often deploys military assets in response to North Korean missile tests, leading to tensions between the two countries. While the recent ICBM test showed progress, experts believe North Korea still has technological hurdles to overcome to pose a real threat to the U.S. mainland. The test was seen as an attempt to gain attention ahead of the U.S. presidential election and respond to international criticism of its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.