United States supersonic bombers fly over S. Korea in warning to Kim Jong

The recent flyover comes amid growing tensions with North Korea, sparked by its latest underground nuclear test earlier this month, followed by its alleged successful test-run of a high-powered engine that experts say is designed for an inter-continental ballistic missile to target the US mainland.

The United States, which has about 28,500 troops in South Korea, flew two B-1 bombers on September 13 escorted by US and South Korean fighter jets in a show of solidarity with Seoul.

Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test, the country’s most powerful to date.

The government of President Park Geun-hye has rejected such an idea as running against the principle of a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons.

“Under the KMPR, massive fire attacks will be concentrated on the North’s wartime command centers in Pyongyang”, a defense ministry official told the JoongAng Ilbo, noting that a pre-emptive strike could be considered under such an operation scheme.

This latest show of strength from the USA comes just over a week after it sent two B-1Bs to South Korea on September 13.

North Korea has ignored global condemnation of their nuclear tests and continued ramping up rocket engine development. It said the flight was conducted as a demonstration of Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to maintaining security on the peninsula. Lee Wang-keun. “Should the enemy provoke us once again, the Combined Air Forces will respond and eliminate their will and capability to fight”.

North Korea has been testing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate this year, beginning with its fourth nuclear test in January and including the launch of a satellite in February that was widely seen as a test of long-range ballistic missile technology. One of two supersonic bombers landed at the Osan base, which was the first time a B-1B jet has done so.

The B-1B does not now carry nuclear weapons, and some do not consider it nuclear capable in its current configuration.

Last week, USFK Commander General Vincent K. Brooks said, “North Korea’s nuclear test is a unsafe escalation and poses an unacceptable threat”. The two countries have reportedly begun discussions on a possible United Nations resolution in response to the latest nuclear test, but it remains to be seen whether this would mean closing loopholes in earlier sanctions.

Advertisement

Tension between North Korea and its neighbors continues to grow. But the next exercise is apparently going to include a mock attack on a nuclear facility.