Guam Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers, along with escorts of Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter jets from Okinawa, Japan, flew over international airspace over waters east of North Korea today, Pentagon chief spokesperson Dana W. White said in a statement announcing the mission. It is the most northerly place in the demilitarized zone that an American fighter or bombardment plane has flown off the coast of North Korea in the 21st century, White said.

The mission underlines the seriousness with which the United States takes North Korea’s “reckless behavior”, she added.

“A clear message”

“This mission is a demonstration of the United States’ resolve and a clear message that the president has many military options to defeat any threat,” she said. “North Korea’s arms program is a serious threat to the Asia-Pacific region and the entire international community. We are ready to use the full range of military capabilities to defend the homeland of the United States and our allies. “

On September 17, US Air Force and Marine Corps aircraft joined Japanese and South Korean military jets in a sequenced bilateral show of force over the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea’s launch, on September 14, a medium-range ballistic missile over Japan.