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[webfact]

U.S. B-1B bombers to fly over Korean peninsula, Yonhap reports

By Christine Kim

 

FILE PHOTO: A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, takes-off to fly a bilateral mission with Japanese and South Korea Air Force jets in the vicinity of the Sea of Japan, from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, October 10, 2017. Staff Sgt. Joshua Smoot/U.S. Air Force/Handout via REUTERS

 

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. B-1B Lancer bombers will fly over the Korean peninsula on Wednesday as part of a large-scale joint aerial drill being staged with South Korea this week, the South's Yonhap news agency reported, citing an unidentified military source.

 

The bombers will take part in the drills at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula and as United Nations political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman makes a rare visit to North Korea.

 

The North has warned the drills would push the Korean peninsula to "the brink of nuclear war".

 

Some analysts and diplomats hope Feltman's visit to the North could spark a U.N.-led effort to defuse rising international tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programmes.

 

North Korea's state media confirmed the arrival of Feltman and his entourage late on Tuesday without offering more details.

 

Feltman, a former senior U.S. State Department official, is the highest-level U.N. official to visit North Korea since 2012. The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday he was not carrying any message from Washington during his visit.

 

The drills, which started on Monday and will run until Friday, come after North Korea tested last week what it called its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could reach all of the United States.

 

South Korean government officials, including President Moon Jae-in, have said the North's latest ICBM is their most capable yet, although it has several critical points to prove, such as re-entry technology and terminal stage guidance.

 

A South Korean defence ministry official was unable to immediately verify the Yonhap report about the U.S. B-1B Lancer bombers taking part in the drills on Wednesday.

 

The annual joint exercise, called "Vigilant Ace", has been designed to enhance readiness and operational capability and to ensure peace and security on the Korean peninsula, officials have said. Around 12,000 U.S. service members, including from the Marines and Navy, will join South Korean troops.

 

Aircraft taking part will be flown from eight U.S. and South Korean military installations.

 

The U.S. Air Force has said the size of this year's drill is "comparable" to previous years.

 

North Korea has vehemently criticised the drills since the weekend, saying the exercise "precipitates" the United States' and South Korea's "self-destruction".

 

China and Russia had proposed that the United States and South Korea stop major military exercises in exchange for North Korea halting its weapons programmes. Beijing formally calls the idea the "dual suspension" proposal.

 

Russia has communication channels open with North Korea and Moscow is ready to exert its influence on Pyongyang, RIA news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov as saying on Tuesday.

 

(Reporting by Christine Kim; Editing by Paul Tait)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-12-06

[pattayadon]

The North has warned the drills would push the Korean peninsula to "the brink of nuclear war".

 

North Korea does not have the nuclear capability to carry out this boisterous claim and although it hasn't been mentioned the US will not utilize nukes for simple target practice.   !    This is really getting old and almost boring to hear all the threatening bs!!!   zzzzzzzzz

[IAMHERE]

This would be more impressive if they announced that these flights have been going on for several years and nobody has ever caught them on radar. Heck, even if it was not true.

[craigt3365]

3 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

This would be more impressive if they announced that these flights have been going on for several years and nobody has ever caught them on radar. Heck, even if it was not true.

From what I've read, NK can not detect the stealth aircraft 

 

[quadperfect]

Things are pretty sketchy. I am also tired of hearing the idle threats. Its so childish. But it cant be left alone . 3 months is the limit they said.

once kim has his act together more will die. So dont let him get it together. 

[Thongkorn]

7 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

From what I've read, NK can not detect the stealth aircraft 

 

 Britain tracked the first Steal fighters across the atlantic when they were first Stationed in the UK , the are not that stealth, when they open the Bomb doors they leave a signature, also the paint on them peals off, (developed by shell).

Edited December 6, 2017 by Thongkorn

[hawker9000]

8 hours ago, quadperfect said:

Things are pretty sketchy. I am also tired of hearing the idle threats. Its so childish. But it cant be left alone . 3 months is the limit they said.

once kim has his act together more will die. So dont let him get it together.

Exactly.  How so many can miss this simple truth is a mystery, and somewhat pathetic.  But I guess nobody ever accused thug-sympathizers of having any sense.  Kim fanboyz are something of an enigma (but not entirely; any opportunity to get their mindless America-hate on, even if it lends aid & comfort to a brutal dictator who commits acts of war and brutalizes his own people...).

 

[craigt3365]

5 hours ago, Thongkorn said:

 Britain tracked the first Steal fighters across the atlantic when they were first Stationed in the UK , the are not that stealth, when they open the Bomb doors they leave a signature, also the paint on them peals off, (developed by shell).

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-arms-analysis/north-koreas-bark-may-be-worse-than-bite-in-threat-to-shoot-down-u-s-bombers-idUSKCN1C12X2

North Korea's bark may be worse than bite in threat to shoot down U.S. bombers

North Korea has threatened to shoot down U.S. bombers flying near the Korean peninsula, but it would have difficulty matching its words with action given aging air defense systems mostly dating to the Cold War, military experts said.

 

Last week, North Korea seemed to be unaware that the U.S. B-1B bombers had even been dispatched as it took no action to counter the U.S. patrol at that time, a South Korean lawmaker who was briefed by South Korea’s spy agency said on Tuesday.

[hawker9000]

Just now, craigt3365 said:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missiles-arms-analysis/north-koreas-bark-may-be-worse-than-bite-in-threat-to-shoot-down-u-s-bombers-idUSKCN1C12X2

North Korea's bark may be worse than bite in threat to shoot down U.S. bombers

North Korea has threatened to shoot down U.S. bombers flying near the Korean peninsula, but it would have difficulty matching its words with action given aging air defense systems mostly dating to the Cold War, military experts said.

 

Last week, North Korea seemed to be unaware that the U.S. B-1B bombers had even been dispatched as it took no action to counter the U.S. patrol at that time, a South Korean lawmaker who was briefed by South Korea’s spy agency said on Tuesday.

It's not much of a threat, as you point out.   But even attempting to shoot down an aircraft not actually in N. Korean airspace would be more than enough justification for bombing the missile launch site (some sub-launched Tomahawks should do the job nicely), and far more dangerous to NOT retaliate against such a blatant provocation than to react proportionately by doing so.

 

And for the thug-sympathizers out there, No, I'm obviously not talking about nuclear-tipped Tomahawks..

 

 

[mrwebb8825]

On 12/6/2017 at 7:46 AM, webfact said:

 

The North has warned the drills would push the Korean peninsula to "the brink of nuclear war".

They must have a really high "brink" or they retreat from it very quickly as they never quite seem to get pushed over the brink. 

[ilostmypassword]

On 12/7/2017 at 3:39 AM, hawker9000 said:

Exactly.  How so many can miss this simple truth is a mystery, and somewhat pathetic.  But I guess nobody ever accused thug-sympathizers of having any sense.  Kim fanboyz are something of an enigma (but not entirely; any opportunity to get their mindless America-hate on, even if it lends aid & comfort to a brutal dictator who commits acts of war and brutalizes his own people...).

 

Remember when Trump sent the convoy to Korea and all the Trump backers were saying finally something was going to get done about the North.  We're still waiting. Maybe Trump is a secret fanboy.

[craigt3365]

15 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Remember when Trump sent the convoy to Korea and all the Trump backers were saying finally something was going to get done about the North.  We're still waiting. Maybe Trump is a secret fanboy.

Wasn't it an "armada"?  A bigly one? LOL

[Grouse]

Can't we have some uplifting aircraft names? Stratofortress, super fortress, Lancaster, Lightning, Typhoon, B1 Trumposaurus, whatever? We need something to cheer on with our Miller Lights!