WASHINGTON -- The United States has deployed three
B-2 Spirit
nuclear stealth bombers to support U.S. Pacific Command, U.S.
Strategic Command announced Wednesday.
The aircraft are the United States' most advanced bomber and part of
its nuclear deterrent defenses.
It is not the first time that the United States deployed the B-2
bombers to the Pacific Command. Last fall, the U.S.
Air Force deployed
three B-2s to Guam. In March 2013, the U.S. sent two B-2s to conduct
a flyover near Seoul, South Korea. All three bomber deployments
followed North Korean missile tests.
In recent weeks, U.S. and South Korean officials have publicly
discussed providing additional strategic defenses for South Korea,
including deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile
defense system. The officials announced they were discussing its
deployment in response to long-range missile launches in early
February by North Korea.
Previously, U.S. and South Korean officials had not publicly
acknowledged any discussions on the deployment of the THAAD missile
defense system due to pressure placed on South Korea by China not to
accept the system. U.S. officials now emphasize the deployment of
THAAD would be to protect South Korea and the approximately 28,500
U.S. soldiers based there.
On Tuesday, North Korea announced it has developed the capability to
put a miniaturized nuclear weapon on a ballistic missile, the same
day that the Air Force deployed the B-2s. The Air Force did not
specify where the B-2s would be based.
"Recent events demonstrate the continued need to provide consistent
and credible air power throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region,"
said Gen. Lori J. Robinson, Pacific Air Forces commander. "Our
ability to demonstrate credible combat power while training and
inter-operating with our network of like-minded partner nations is
vitally important."