U.S. strategic bomber flies over Korean Peninsula on Armed Forces Day — in pictures

A U.S. B-1B bomber appeared in South Korea’s ceremony celebrating its 76th Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Tuesday.

A U.S. B-1B strategic bomber is seen flying over the Korean Peninsula as it appears for South Korea’s ceremony marking the 76th Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Tuesday. [NEWS1]

A U.S. B-1B bomber appeared at South Korea's ceremony celebrating its 76th Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Tuesday.

The U.S. Air Force's B-1B Lancer bomber, a key American strategic asset dubbed the "Swan of Death" by the South Korean media, can fly at Mach 1.25 and carry up to 57 tons of munitions.

A U.S. B-1B strategic bomber is seen flying over the Korean Peninsula, escorted by two F-15 fighters, as it appears for South Korea’s ceremony marking the 76th Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Tuesday. [NEWS1]

It is considered unmatched in payload capacity compared to other U.S. bombers like the B-2 and B-52, though it does not carry nuclear weapons. It can reach the Korean Peninsula from the U.S. base in Guam within two hours.

The B-1B, believed to have taken off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam earlier Tuesday and appeared over Seoul Air Base at around 11:38 a.m. escorted by two F-15 fighter jets.

Tuesday's Armed Forces Day ceremony and military parade was an occasion for the allies to unite in a show of force amid heightened tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

An Apache helicopter fires flares at a ceremony marking the 76th Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Tuesday. [YONHAP]

The South Korean Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team appears over the skies at a ceremony marking the 76th Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Tuesday. [YONHAP]

The South Korean Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team appears over the skies at a ceremony marking the 76th Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

An RF-16 reconnaissance aircraft is spotted at a ceremony marking the 76th Armed Forces Day at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Tuesday. [YONHAP]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]