US Bombers Send Message to North Korea

Two US bombers flew to the Korean Peninsula to join fighter jets from South Korea and Japan for a practice bombing run as part of a training mission in response to North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear programs, officials said Saturday. US military officials described the mission Friday as a defensive show of force and unity from the three allied nations and said it demonstrated "the ironclad US commitment to our allies," per the AP. President Trump and the leaders of South Korea and Japan, who met during the G-20 summit in Germany, issued a joint statement condemning the North's recent test-launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile and calling it a global threat that demanded "maximum pressure" in response.

"North Korea's actions are a threat to our allies, partners and homeland," Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, US Pacific Air Forces commander, said in a statement. "Let me be clear: If called upon we are trained, equipped and ready to unleash the full lethal capability of our allied air forces." The US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers from Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam conducted a 10-hour mission with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets. (One columnist thinks the most likely US response is "acquiescence.")