The flight of two United States bombers capable of carrying an entire nuclear arsenal over South Korean Osan Air Base, south of Seoul, was intended as a show of force for Pyongyang, which conducted its fifth nuclear test on Friday, prompting a harsh response from South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who accused the North of “maniacal recklessness”.
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Washington is planning to send the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the USS Ronald Reagan and the Japan-based Carrier Strike Group Five to South Korean waters next month for a joint naval exercise, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. Due to their 5th and most powerful nuclear test so far, according to expert estimates, it appears that the North has enough nuclear material for tests, and therefore current production capacity of the nuclear material allows future nuclear tests.
China is North Korea’s most important diplomatic and trade partner, and while China has signed up for tough United Nations sanctions on the isolated state, it refuses to cut the country off completely, fearing it may collapse.
The latest outburst has been sparked by the flight of two supersonic B-1 Lancer strategic bombers belonging to the United States over South Korea on Tuesday.
“Assessment by South Korean and USA intelligence is that the North is always ready for an additional nuclear test in the Punggye-ri area”, spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said, according to Reuters. “Today’s operation was a novel example of the capabilities of all three nations”, he said by email.
Two nuclear-capable American B-1B bombers flew over the Korean peninsula on Monday night, accompanied by U.S. F-16s and South Korean jets.
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While North Korea views the South and the United states as their main enemies, they claim their “scientists and technicians carried out a nuclear explosion test for the judgment of the power of a nuclear warhead”, according to the North Korea Central News Agency.
