N. Korea denounces US for deploying B-1B strategic bombers to Japan

This image, provided by South Korea's Ministry of National Defense on Feb. 20, shows a B-1B bomber, front, during a joint South Korea-United States exercise. Yonhap

North Korea on Friday denounced the United States for deploying B-1B strategic bombers to Japan, arguing that such deployment would pose a threat to security in the region.

The North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published the criticism in an article, accusing Washington of stationing its bomber in Japan for a long-term period and escalating tensions in the region to a record high by using Japan and South Korea as outposts.

On April 15, a U.S. bomber task force, comprising B-1B Lancer aircraft, airmen and support equipment from the U.S. Air Force's 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, arrived at Misawa Air Base, Japan, to reinforce regional stability in the Indo-Pacific, according to the Indo-Pacific Command. It marks the first time a U.S. Air Force bomber task force has been deployed to Japan.

The U.S. has also deployed a B-1B bomber to South Korea three times so far this year, including during a South Korea-U.S. exercise in mid-April.

The B-1B Lancer is one of the three strategic U.S. bombers, with the capacity to fly 12,000 kilometers non-stop at supersonic speeds and carry up to 57 tons of weapons.

The KCNA accused the U.S. of the long-term deployment and permanent stationing of its strategic assets deep within the Indo-Pacific, saying, "It clearly marks a threatening development to the regional security."

"The Asia Pacific region is not a fragile area where the U.S. can shift the balance at will using a few units of strategic combers," the KCNA said, warning the U.S. would face "due backlash" from people in the region for its schemes.