North Korea Loathes US "Swan of Death"... Forward Deployment to Japan

US B-1B Strategic Bomber Forward-Deployed to US Base in Japan
Pressure on North Korea... Seen as a Move Targeting China Amid Tariff Disputes

The US B-1B strategic bomber has been forward-deployed to a US military base in Japan.

According to the website of the US Indo-Pacific Command on April 20, a B-1B bomber from the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron was deployed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas to Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, on April 15 (local time).

A scene from the South Korea-US combined air exercise conducted in February while the US B-1B strategic bomber was deployed. Ministry of National Defense

The US Indo-Pacific Command stated that this deployment is "intended to support strategic deterrence missions to strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific region," adding that it "demonstrates the United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, as well as to its allies and partner nations."

The B-1B is a supersonic strategic bomber capable of flying at a maximum speed of Mach 1.25 and covering up to 12,000 kilometers. It can carry up to 57 tons of ordnance, which is superior to other bombers such as the B-52 (31 tons). For these reasons, the forward deployment of the B-1B is interpreted as a means to pressure North Korea and also to keep China in check.

Previously, on April 15, the South Korean and US air forces conducted a combined air exercise over the Korean Peninsula with the deployment of the B-1B bomber. The exercise drew attention as it coincided with the "Day of the Sun," the birthday of North Korean leader Kim Il Sung.