The Guam-based bombers trained with Japanese aircraft, which later conducted a handoff in global airspace with South Korean fighter jets, according to a statement from the U.S. Forces Japan. It also pointed to the latest round of annual U.S.
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The U.S. left no doubt that the flyover was related to North Korea’s latest nuclear weapons test, which took place four days ago.
” ‘Left unchecked, Pyongyang will likely develop the capability to reach the continental United States with a nuclear tipped missile in a decade or so, ‘ [Hecker] wrote on the North Korea-focused website 38 North”.
These latest tests will be particularly worrisome for military planners in the USA and its allies, as they suggest a maturing technological capability in both the DPRK’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
South Korea and the USA have insisted that the North should give up its nuclear weapons before resuming dialogue, but there is speculation that China and Russian Federation might push for talks without pre-conditions. The U.S. desires “new sanctions to demonstrate to North Korea that there indeed are consequences for its unlawful and unsafe actions”, he explained. “Today’s operation was a novel example of the capabilities of all three nations”, he said by email.
The B-1B bombers took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, a US territory, before conducting low-level flights in the vicinity of Osan Air Base near Seoul, 75 miles south of the border with North Korea.
U.S. B-1B strategic bombers fly over South Korea Tuesday.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has pointed the proverbial finger for the North Korea nuclear testing on China’s responsibility, according to CNBC.
South Korea has said it has a plan to annihilate the North Korean capital if it shows any signs of mounting a nuclear attack. He said China agrees that the worldwide community should take sterner measures against the North by adopting new United Nations sanctions against the regime.
Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test is believed to be its largest ever.
The paper called the USA a “troublemaker” and said it has no right to advise China to take responsibility in restraining the North from carrying out missile launches.
On the diplomatic front, the U.S. special envoy on North Korea, Sung Kim, said Tuesday that the United States and South Korea will be considering “additional unilateral measures” in response to Pyongyang’s latest nuclear test. Kim also said Japan may be included in additional initiatives. “The United States and the Republic of Korea are taking actions every day to strengthen our alliance and respond to North Korea’s continued aggressive behavior”, he added.
On Friday morning local time, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test – the second such test this year.
Despite sanctions, by now North Korea is probably largely self-sufficient in operating its nuclear programme, although it may still struggle to produce some material and items, Lewis said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a catfish farm at an undisclosed location in North Korea on December 12, 2015.
The six party talks aimed at ending the North’s nuclear program involve the United States, Russia, Japan, South Korea, China, and North Korea but have been stalled since 2008.
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South Korea’s President Park called for South Korea to maintain a high-level of combat readiness to ensure that it can retaliate against a North Korean assault.
