soul: The United States flew nuclear-capable bombers to the Korean Peninsula on Friday in its latest show of strength North KoreaA few days later the North held massive anti-American rallies in its capital.
South Korea’s defense ministry said in a statement that long-range B-52 bombers participated in joint air exercises with other US and South Korean fighter jets over the peninsula.
The bombers’ flyover is the latest in a series of temporary US deployments of strategic assets to South Korea in response to North Korea’s effort to expand its nuclear arsenal.
Two weeks ago, the US deployed a nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying about 150 Tomahawk missiles to South Korean waters for the first time in six years.
The USS Michigan’s arrival came a day after North Korea resumed missile tests to protest previous US-South Korean drills, which it sees as invasion rehearsals.
The South Korean Defense Ministry said the deployment of B-52 bombers has increased the visibility of US strategic assets in the peninsula.
It added that the allies are demonstrating their determination to strengthen the joint defense posture and will continue joint exercises involving US strategic bombers.
More than 120,000 North Koreans took part in mass rallies in Pyongyang on Sunday to mark the 73rd anniversary of the start of the Korean War.
During the rallies, officials and residents vowed “merciless revenge” against the United States over the war, accusing the US of plotting an invasion of North Korea.
The Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula in a technical state of war.
The US has deployed about 28,000 troops in South Korea to guard against possible North Korean aggression.
Since the launch of two short-range ballistic missiles on 15 June, North Korea has conducted no further public weapons tests.
But the deployment of US bombers could prompt him to launch the weapon again in protest.
Increasing “regular visibility of US strategic assets” in the Korean Peninsula was part of the agreements reached between US Pres. Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during their summit in Washington in April.
Biden said at the time that any nuclear attack by North Korea on the US or its allies would result in “the end of any regime that takes such action”.
Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has conducted more than 100 missile tests to increase its arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles targeting the US mainland and South Korea. The Allies have responded by expanding their military exercises.
In late May, a North Korean launch of a rocket carrying its first spy satellite ended in failure, with the rocket plunging into water shortly after launch.
Since then, North Korea has repeatedly said it will attempt a second launch, saying it is vital to building a space-based surveillance system to counter what it calls US hostility.
South Korea’s defense ministry said in a statement that long-range B-52 bombers participated in joint air exercises with other US and South Korean fighter jets over the peninsula.
The bombers’ flyover is the latest in a series of temporary US deployments of strategic assets to South Korea in response to North Korea’s effort to expand its nuclear arsenal.
Two weeks ago, the US deployed a nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying about 150 Tomahawk missiles to South Korean waters for the first time in six years.
The USS Michigan’s arrival came a day after North Korea resumed missile tests to protest previous US-South Korean drills, which it sees as invasion rehearsals.
The South Korean Defense Ministry said the deployment of B-52 bombers has increased the visibility of US strategic assets in the peninsula.
It added that the allies are demonstrating their determination to strengthen the joint defense posture and will continue joint exercises involving US strategic bombers.
More than 120,000 North Koreans took part in mass rallies in Pyongyang on Sunday to mark the 73rd anniversary of the start of the Korean War.
During the rallies, officials and residents vowed “merciless revenge” against the United States over the war, accusing the US of plotting an invasion of North Korea.
The Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula in a technical state of war.
The US has deployed about 28,000 troops in South Korea to guard against possible North Korean aggression.
Since the launch of two short-range ballistic missiles on 15 June, North Korea has conducted no further public weapons tests.
But the deployment of US bombers could prompt him to launch the weapon again in protest.
Increasing “regular visibility of US strategic assets” in the Korean Peninsula was part of the agreements reached between US Pres. Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol during their summit in Washington in April.
Biden said at the time that any nuclear attack by North Korea on the US or its allies would result in “the end of any regime that takes such action”.
Since the beginning of 2022, North Korea has conducted more than 100 missile tests to increase its arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles targeting the US mainland and South Korea. The Allies have responded by expanding their military exercises.
In late May, a North Korean launch of a rocket carrying its first spy satellite ended in failure, with the rocket plunging into water shortly after launch.
Since then, North Korea has repeatedly said it will attempt a second launch, saying it is vital to building a space-based surveillance system to counter what it calls US hostility.