In preparation of any further provocation from North Korea, US forces in South Korea were put on their highest level of alert on Monday, Reuters news agency reported.
Advertisement
The six-party talks involve South Korea, the DPRK, China, the United States, Japan and Russian Federation.
South Korean special envoy Hwang Joon-kook will meet his Japanese and United States counterparts in Seoul on Wednesday to hold “in-depth talks” on possible diplomatic responses to the North’s nuclear weapon test, its first since 2013 and fourth overall.
The strategic bomber was joined by US F-16 fighter aircraft and South Korean F-15 fighter aircraft.
Earlier Monday, a spokesman for South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which deals with North Korean affairs, said that it would impose tougher entry restrictions to the Kaesong Industrial Complex and workers in the park would have their stays limited to the “minimum necessary level” for their own safety.
The US on Sunday sent a B-52 bomber on a low-level flight south of Seoul, while South Korea has restarted propaganda broadcasts across its heavily armed northern border.
While the North did not issue direct threats in reaction to the loudspeaker campaign – in contrast to a year ago when it threatened to strike back and declare a quasi-state of war – it balked at the fly-over of a U.S. B-52 bomber.
During his tour, Kim posed for photos with leading military officials in front of statues of the two members of his family who led the country previously – Kim Jong Il and Kim Il Sung.
US B-52 strategic bomber flying over South Korea in a show of force following North Korea’s nuclear test, South Korea, 10 January 2016.
The North has previously shelled a South Korean island near their maritime border and sunk a South Korean naval ship.
While receiving global condemnation for the test, many commentators have doubted the veracity of Pyongyang’s nuclear claims.
Seoul can’t stand down easily, some analysts say, and it’s highly unlikely that the North will express regret for its nuclear test, which is a source of intense national pride.
The commander of combined forces, Curtis Scaparrotti, made the order during a visit to the Osan Air Base which is operated jointly by the US and South Korea, a United States Forces Korea (USFK) official said.
Meanwhile, the North Korean state newspaper warned the USA it could no longer threaten the rogue state with nuclear arms.
There was an exchange of artillery fire the last time the speakers were used in August.
South Korea’s Blue House announced Monday that President Park Geun-hye will make a public statement Wednesday and is expected to announce new punitive measures against North Korea.
China has signed up for tough United Nations sanctions on North Korea and insists it follows them, including carrying out border inspections, but it also provides large amounts of aid off the books to Pyongyang, experts and diplomats say.
Advertisement
On the other hand, South Korea resumed its anti-North Korea broadcasts a few days after North Korea claimed they have conducted a “successful” hydrogen bomb test.
