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3d ago

U.S. B-1B Bombers Deployed to Japan for First Time, Drawing North Korean Condemnation

The landmark arrival of a U.S. bomber task force at Misawa Air Base underscores expanding deterrence efforts in the Indo-Pacific as Pyongyang labels the move a regional threat.

Four B-1B bombers park at Misawa Air Base in Japan on April 18, 2025, for the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission.
This image, provided by South Korea's defense ministry, show a B-1B bomber (R-B) during a joint South Korea-United States exercise. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Overview

  • A U.S. bomber task force, including B-1B Lancer aircraft, has been stationed at Misawa Air Base in Japan as of April 15, 2025, marking the first such deployment in the country.
  • The deployment is part of broader U.S. efforts to reinforce regional stability and deterrence in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile programs.
  • North Korea has condemned the stationing of U.S. bombers in Japan, accusing Washington of escalating tensions and using allied territories as outposts to shift regional power dynamics.
  • The B-1B Lancer, capable of flying 12,000 kilometers at supersonic speeds and carrying up to 57 tons of weapons, highlights the U.S.'s strategic power projection in the region.
  • This deployment follows three B-1B bomber rotations to South Korea earlier this year, including joint exercises with South Korean forces in mid-April.