US flies supersonic bombers in response to North Korea’s new ICBM launch

Former national security adviser addresses North Korea and China fears

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The U.S. military on Saturday responded to recent missile launches from North Korea by flying two supersonic bombers alongside South Korean and Japanese warplanes.

North Korea on Friday drew international ire after it test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile capable (ICBM) of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and with a range that could reach anywhere on the U.S.’s mainland.

The U.S. and its regional allies condemned the move and accused Pyongyang of attempting to destabilize the region as it looks to bolster its nuclear program and gain geopolitical prowess though its military advancements. 

© South Korean Defense Ministry via AP In this photo provided by South Korean Defense Ministry, two U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers, top center, South Korean Air Force F-35 fighter jets and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets, bottom left, fly over South Korea Peninsula during a joint air drill in South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. South Korean Defense Ministry via AP

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly watched the launch of the ICMB on Friday with his wife and “beloved daughter” in what some saw as a sign of his growing confidence in Pyongyang’s abilities to take on top militaries, like the U.S.’s armed forces. 

The U.S. deployed B-1B supersonic bombers in joint drills over South Korea earlier this month for the first time in five years after North Korea had ramped up its missile testing and overt aggression in the region.

© Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) This photo distributed by the North Korean government shows what it says is a test-fire of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on March 24, 2022. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File

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The B-1B – which reportedly irks Kim over its ability to deliver a massive payload of conventional guided and unguided weapons – has been dubbed the “backbone” of the U.S.’s bomber force according to a statement by the U.S. Air Force.

“It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time,” the statement said. Adding that its “low-radar cross-section” allows the bomber to form “an integrated, robust defense system that supports penetration of hostile airspace.”

© South Korean Defense Ministry via AP In this photo provided by South Korean Defense Ministry, a U.S. Air Force B-1B bomber, sixth from top left, South Korean Air Force F-35 fighter jets and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets, left, fly over South Korea Peninsula during a joint air drill in South Korea, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. South Korean Defense Ministry via AP

At Japan’s request, the U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday regarding North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launch. 

Though the council’s ability to do anything to punish Pyongyang seems unlikely given China and Russia’s blockade earlier this year on attempts to further sanction North Korea for violating UN charter by expanding its nuclear and ballistic capabilities. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.