United States sends B-2 bombers to Asia amid North Korea tension

WASHINGTON – The U.S. says it has dispatched three B-2 stealth bombers on a training mission to the Asia-Pacific region amid growing tensions with North Korea.

The deployment was announced Wednesday by U.S. Strategic Command, which is responsible for U.S. nuclear forces. B-2 bombers are capable of launching nuclear as well as conventional weapons. They are based at Whiteman Air Force Base in the Midwest state of Missouri.

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Strategic Command said the bombers will conduct training with the Australian military during the deployment, which amounts to a show of force at a time of mounting tensions with North Korea. North Korea threatened pre-emptive nuclear strikes after the United States and South Korea began large-scale war games this month.

Strategic Command declined to say where the bombers will be operating from, or for how long.

WATCH: U.S., South Korea continue military exercises near North Korean border

1:13 U.S., South Korea continue military exercises near North Korean border