Several B-1B Lancer bombers of the U.S. Air Force engaged in a demonstration flight over
international airspace in North Korea's east coast around midnight on September 23. This is the first time since the Korean War that a U.S. bomber flew over North Korea's east coast, and the latest flight triggered concerns that it could suggest the possibility of independent military action by the U.S. This afternoon, President Moon Jae-in convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) and discussed ways to ease the recent tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Military Demonstration by U.S. Bombers: U.S. strategic bomber B-1B Lancer, known as the “swan of death,” left form the Anderson Air Force Base in Guam (U.S. territory) and conducted a military demonstration by flying into the international airspace over North Korea's east coast on September 23 (local time). The picture shows a B-1B Lancer preparing to take off from the Anderson base. Yonhap News

U.S. Pentagon spokesperson Dana White released a statement immediately after the flight and
announced, "This is the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) any U.S fighter or
bomber aircraft have flown off North Korea's coast in the 21st century. The B-1B Lancer
bombers departed from the U.S. base in Guam and flew into the international airspace over the
East Sea escorted by U.S. Air Force F-15C fighter jets, which took off from the U.S base in
Okinawa this day.
The U.S. government did not disclose in detail to exactly what point over the East Sea that the B-1B bombers and F-15C fighters flew. The B-1B bombers are estimated to have flown up to the Japan Air Defense Identification Zone (JADIZ) outside the Korea Air Defense Identification
Zone (KADIZ), north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea.
The B-1B's flight into international airspace near North Korea was a strong warning to Pyongyang in response to the statement released by Kim Jong-un, chairman of the Workers
Party of Korea. The Donald Trump administration showed that their message of military
options on the table was not a bluff. The B-1B can carry 27.2 tons of precision guided bombs
and air-launched cruise missiles. It also has stealth capabilities and is a weapon feared by the North Korean leadership.
However, it is unclear as to whether the South Korean government willingly approved of the
strategic bomber's military demonstration north of the DMZ, since the act is extremely
provocative in nature. Unlike the military demonstration on September 18, when the B-1B,
known as the “swan of death” was escorted by the South Korean Air Force's F-15K fighter jets,
this time, Korean aircraft were not airborne. A senior Cheong Wa Dae official said, We knew

beforehand of the U.S. deployment of the strategic bombers. The reason our aircraft did not take off was because the operation took place outside of our airspace and waters. There was no need for us to go.
However, the latest measure by the U.S. military can also convey a message that the U.S. can
engage in independent military operations against North Korea, fueling concerns. Ever since the president's speech on August 15 National Liberation Day, President Moon has emphasized
that the U.S. must discuss any military action that can affect the Korean Peninsula with the South Korean government whenever he had the chance.
This day, President Moon convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council
without any prior notice. Cheong Wa Dae released the fact that the 2-hour- and-twenty- minute
meeting was held after it ended, and simply announced that they discussed further measures to stop additional provocations by the North amidst escalating tensions due to a series of
provocations by Pyongyang and did not respond to further questions by the press.
The seven NSC meetings that the president had convened so far were all held after specific
actions, such as nuclear tests or missile launches, by North Korea, except for the one session held during the Ulji exercise on August 21, so this day's meeting was unusual. Over the phone, a Cheong Wa Dae official said, We can clearly say that there are no signs of any specific provocations from the North yet.
Thus, the sudden NSC meeting appears to be related to the solo military demonstration in the
airspace north of the Military Demarcation Line by the U.S. amidst a harsh verbal battle between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Trump.
One diplomatic and security expert said, If the latest action by the U.S. suggests that the U.S.
can engage in military activities on the Korean Peninsula alone, the South Korean government
must send a message that military operations without the consent of South Korea can severely
hurt the ROK-US alliance.