US Supersonic Bombing Aircraft Landing In Guam, Pentagon: Send Messages To Allies And Partners To Preventprovocations

JAKARTA - The US Lancer B-1B bomber landed in Guam, the Pacific Ocean this week, amid tensions over Taiwan's region and prospects for North Korea's nuclear tests.

This is the placement of the two supersonic heavy bombers in the region this year. The US military confirmed their temporary deployment into the Pacific region, as part of a mission of the 'bomber task force' on Thursday, a day after the aircraft reconnaissance website reported their flight from bases in the United States.

"This is intended to send a message, the United States stands closely with its allies and partners to prevent potential provocations," Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder told a briefing, when asked if the mission was intended to send North Korea a message.

The presence of the bombers also aims to show that the United States has the ability to carry out global operations at any time, he added.

North Korea has carried out a number of missile test records this year, including launching one over Japan. Officials in Washington and Seoul said North Korea also seems ready to resume nuclear tests for the first time since 2017.

To note, North Korea has carried out six nuclear tests since 2006.

In response to Pyongyang's missile test, the United States and its allies in South Korea and Japan have stepped up the military force display, including conducting naval exercises with US aircraft carriers and holding main field exercises for the first time in years.

The B-1B bombers have participated in a show of force against North Korea in previous years.

During their temporary stay in Guam, the bombers will partner with unspecified allied forces for several training missions in the Indo-Pacific, the US Air Force said in a statement.

"B-1 is a very capable platform in the region, capable of long-distance travel and has significant firing power with precision ammunition and a standoff," Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Mount, of the 37th Bomb Squadron, said in the statement.

The bomber task force mission "played an important role in blocking potential enemies and challenging their decision calculus", said another officer.