A pair of B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bombers took part in trilateral aerial exercises this week. The U.S. Air Force bombers flew alongside Japanese and South Korean fighters. 

It was the third such exercise to take place since a historic trilateral summit last year brought leaders of the three nations together at Camp David.

According to Air Force Global Strike Command (AFSTRAT-AIR), U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Wing flew alongside Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s from the 8th Air Wing and Republic of Korea Air Force F-15Ks from the 11th Wing. These aircraft escorted the two B-52Hs.

"The enhanced complexity and fluidity of our collective forces demonstrate the strength of the partnership and cooperation between the three countries, keeping with commitments made to regularize defensive exercise and increase readiness," AFSTRAT-AIR announced.

The first joint bomber escort drill among the three nations took place on Oct. 22 last year, and the second was on Dec. 20.

The April 2 exercise, which took place near Jeju Island, south of the Korean Peninsula, was held to "improve the ability to deter and respond to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats,"  the South Korean Ministry of National Defense explained.

The planned trilateral exercise on Tuesday coincided with the launch of a North Korean intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew roughly 370 miles (600 kilometers) from the Pyongyang area before splashing down in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea, according to South Korea's military. 

Unexpected B-52H Bomber Stop in Japan 

There were reports that a B-52H bomber was forced to divert to the Yokota Air Base in Japan, and the aircraft landed without incident. It has not been confirmed if this was one of the bombers that took part in the exercise earlier in the day.

However, as Stars and Stripes reported, B-52s have rarely landed at Yokota, which serves as the headquarters for the 5th Air Force and U.S. Forces Japan. Another Stratofortress – assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base (AFB), North Dakota – was forced to land at the base in July last year due to an in-flight maintenance issue, and it was also in the region in support of a training exercise.

Its arrival at the Japanese air base in July occurred just a week after four B-52s were deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, as part of bomber task force missions intended to project U.S. air power in the region.

Prior to the unscheduled visit in July, the last B-52 to land at Yokota was in 1989 during the Japanese-American Friendship Festival.

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