The US has deployed supersonic bombers and fighter jets in response to North Korea’s recent missile tests.
B-1B bombers conducted joint aerial drills on Saturday with other South Korean and U.S. warplanes, according to South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff.
It said the exercises demonstrate the US’ “armored” security commitment to South Korea and the allies’ combined defensive posture.
North Korea drew widespread international condemnation on Friday after it test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and with a range that could reach anywhere on the mainland United States.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watching the test with my daughter – her first public appearance – and boasted that the ICBM was the “most reliable and capable” weapon to thwart US military threats.
Kim Jong-un and his daughter inspect an intercontinental ballistic missile
State media photos showed Mr Kim walking hand in hand with the girl and watching together a giant rocket being loaded onto a launch vehicle.
Friday’s launch is part of an ongoing series of missile tests by North Korea seen as an effort to expand the country’s arsenal.
‘Complete confrontation’
Some foreign experts say the Hwasong-17 missile is still under development, but is North Korea’s longest-range ballistic weapon, designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads to defeat defense systems. American missiles.
The North’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the missile fired from Pyongyang International Airport reached a maximum altitude of about 6,040 kilometers (3,750 miles) and flew a distance of about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). before landing in international waters off the east coast of the country.
“The test-fire clearly demonstrated the reliability of the new large strategic weapons system, which represents (North Korea’s) strategic forces, and its strong combat performance as a strategic weapon,” KCNA said. way is the most powerful strategic weapon in the world”.
“Kim Jong Un solemnly declares that if the enemy continues to threaten to [North Korea]regularly put forward nuclear strike measures, our party and government will resolutely respond to nuclear attacks with nuclear weapons and all-out confrontation with all-out confrontation,” KCNA said. .
Kim’s statement indicated that North Korea will continue its weapons testing activities as the United States continues to strengthen its security commitment to allies South Korea and Japan.
There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test within the next five years.
