Powerful US bomber flies over S. Korea as standoff deepens

rooster59 · January 10, 2016

Powerful US bomber flies over S. Korea as standoff deepens

FOSTER KLUG, Associated Press
AHN YOUNG-JOON, Associated Press

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AP) — A powerful U.S. B-52 bomber flew low over South Korea on Sunday, a clear show of force from the United States as a Cold War-style standoff deepened between its ally Seoul and North Korea following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test.

North Korea will read the fly-over of a bomber capable of delivering nuclear weapons — seen by an Associated Press photographer at Osan Air Base near Seoul — as a threat. Any hint of America's nuclear power enrages Pyongyang, which links its own pursuit of atomic weapons to what it sees as past nuclear-backed moves by the United States to topple its authoritarian government.

The B-52 was joined by South Korean F-15 and U.S. F-16 fighters and returned to its base in Guam after the flight, the U.S. military said.

"This was a demonstration of the ironclad U.S. commitment to our allies in South Korea, in Japan, and to the defense of the American homeland," said Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander U.S. Pacific Command, in a statement. "North Korea's nuclear test is a blatant violation of its international obligations."

The B-52 flight follows a victory tour by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to celebrate the country's widely disputed claim of a hydrogen bomb test. Kim is seeking to rally pride in an explosion viewed with outrage by much of the world and to boost his domestic political goals.

There was no immediate reaction from North Korea's state media to the B-52 fly-over, which also happened after North Korea's third nuclear test in 2013.

Kim's first public comments about last week's test came in a visit to the country's military headquarters, where he called the explosion "a self-defensive step" meant to protect the region "from the danger of nuclear war caused by the U.S.-led imperialists," according to a dispatch Sunday from state-run Korean Central News Agency.

"It is the legitimate right of a sovereign state and a fair action that nobody can criticize," Kim was reported as saying during his tour of the People's Armed Forces Ministry.

The tone of Kim's comments, which sought to glorify him and justify the test, is typical of state media propaganda.

But they also provide insight into North Korea's long-running argument that it is the presence of tens of thousands of U.S. troops in South Korea and Japan, and a "hostile" U.S. policy that seeks to topple the government in Pyongyang, that make North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons absolutely necessary.

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. He also sought to link the purported success of the nuclear test to a ruling Workers' Party convention in May, the party's first since 1980. He's expected to use the congress to announce major state policies and shake up the country's political elite to further consolidate his power.

World powers are looking for ways to punish the North over a nuclear test that, even if not of a hydrogen bomb, still likely pushes Pyongyang closer to its goal of a nuclear-armed missile that can reach the U.S. mainland. Many outside governments and experts question whether the blast was in fact a powerful hydrogen test.

In the wake of the test on Wednesday, the two Koreas have settled into the kind of Cold War-era standoff that has defined their relationship over the past seven decades. Since Friday, South Korea has been blasting anti-Pyongyang propaganda from huge speakers along the border, and the North is reportedly using speakers of its own in an attempt to keep its soldiers from hearing the South Korean messages.

A top North Korean ruling party official's recent warning that the South's broadcasts have pushed the Korean Peninsula "toward the brink of war" is typical of Pyongyang's over-the-top rhetoric. But it is also indicative of the real fury that the broadcasts, which criticize the country's revered dictatorship, cause in the North.

North Korea considers the South Korean broadcasts tantamount to an act of war. When Seoul Korea briefly resumed propaganda broadcasts in August after an 11-year break, Seoul says the two Koreas exchanged artillery fire.

South Korean troops, near about 10 sites where loudspeakers started blaring propaganda Friday, were on the highest alert, but have not detected any unusual movement from North Korea along the border, said an official from Seoul's Defense Ministry, who refused to be named, citing office rules.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Seoul had deployed missiles, artillery and other weapons systems near the border to swiftly deal with any possible North Korean provocation. The ministry would not confirm the report, nor another by Yonhap that said North Korea had started its own broadcasts likely meant to keep its soldiers from hearing the South Korean messages.

Officials say broadcasts from the South's loudspeakers can travel about 10 kilometers (6 miles) during the day and 24 kilometers (15 miles) at night. That reaches many of the huge force of North Korean soldiers stationed near the border, as well as residents in border towns such as Kaesong, where the Koreas jointly operate an industrial park that has been a valuable cash source for the impoverished North.

While the South's broadcasts also include news and pop music, much of the programming challenges North Korea's government more directly.

"We hope that our fellow Koreans in the North will be able to live in a society that doesn't invade individual lives as soon as possible," a female presenter said in parts of the broadcast that officials revealed to South Korean media. "Countries run by dictatorships even try to control human instincts."

Marathon talks by the Koreas in August eased anger and stopped the broadcasts, which Seoul started after blaming North Korean land mines for maiming two soldiers. It might be more difficult to do so now. 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.

Responding to the North's bomb test, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged China, the North's only major ally and biggest aid provider, to end "business as usual" with North Korea.

Diplomats at a U.N. Security Council emergency session pledged to swiftly pursue new sanctions. For current sanctions and any new penalties to work, better cooperation and stronger implementation from China is seen as key.

It may take weeks or longer to confirm or refute the North's claim that it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb, which would mark a major and unanticipated advance for its still-limited nuclear arsenal.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-01-10

NeverSure · January 10, 2016

The US needs to put the heat on China to deal with NK. The US is the largest buyer of Chinese exports and charges NO duties for them. China rips the US off by unloading its crap duty free.

While the US is the largest buyer, the Chinese imports are less than 20% of all US imports. LINK The US could do without those imports. A 30% duty would make it more cost effective to manufacture in the US.

Imagine what would happen to China if the US suddenly put a 30% tariff on all Chinese imports, right while China is already crashing? China has been propping NK up for decades and it's time to stop. Surely even China doesn't want those nukes in the hands of a crazy man.

NK couldn't survive without support from China. It's time to stop supporting China.

Cheers.

Edited January 10, 2016 by NeverSure

Seastallion · January 10, 2016

Yeah, that's going to happen....Not!

"The largest foreign holder of U.S. debt is China, which owns more about $1.2 trillion in bills, notes and bonds, according to the Treasury."

erobando · January 10, 2016

North Korea is and has always been China's problem. If the situation really got out of hand, they would replace the regime... and North Korea knows this.

But now the status quo and, most importantly, stability in North Korea is fine for China. Anything that potentially destabilizes the North Korean regime would lead to too many headaches on the shared border.

NeverSure · January 10, 2016

China holds this "debt" in the form of US treasuries so that it can have USD to engage in international trade. Few will accept Chinese money for anything.

China is crashing and very recently has sold almost $2 trillion in US treasuries to raise cash to operate. It's in danger of not having enough USD for international trade.

Right now China holds a tiny amount of US debt. When it recently sold a lot of that debt, the treasuries were easily absorbed by the international market. There is always a demand for US treasuries especially in tough times as they are considered one of the safest places to park money.

China holds absolutely nothing over the US financially. It is the other way around because the US is the largest buyer of Chinese exports and could crash China by restricting the imports. China is an export economy and relies on the US to buy its shit.

Cheers.

Somtamnication · January 10, 2016

Just another part of the perfect storm brewing towards WW3.

metisdead · January 10, 2016

A post containing oversize images has been removed as it messed up the formatting of this page.

2fishin2 · January 10, 2016

Just wondering how China and US economies have anything to do with this?

Publicus · January 10, 2016

Xi hates the bouncing baby boy in Pyongyang and Kim has nothing but disrespect of the old men in Beijing.

CCP in Beijing have more than once thrown their hands in the air during 20 years of unsuccessfully trying to get the Kims to adopt the economic reforms and development of Deng Xiaoping. Beijing has many times and thoroughly presented Deng style reforms to adopt in North Korea but with effectively zero result. That the Kims chose instead to go nuclear shows how crazy they are and also how Beijing has no control over them.

Kim Jong Fat wasted no time to be explicit to Beijing that they must stay away from His North Korea. Right after taking control Kim ordered the show trial and execution of Beijing's Number One guy in Pyongyang, Jang Song Thaek. Jang had been Kim the father's Number Two in both the party and the government, as well as leader of the substantial pro-Beijing faction of the party. The Beijing faction in Pyongyang has been all but obliterated.

Kim has ordered an estimated 100 CCP Chinese in Pyongyang executed as spies, imprisoned as subversives, expelled as not wanted. Kim has placed the CCP ambassador in Pyongyang under 24/7 surveillance.

Xi last year visited South Korea but has not visited N Korea. Kim has not visited in Beijing. Kim is ticked CCP are getting friendly with Seoul. Two rare cultural performers' visits allowed by Kim to Beijing in December were abruptly cancelled and the performers quickly flew out of Beijing before either got to perform. CCP People's Daily said it had been due to "discussion issues at the working level."

There's nothing left to sanction. CCP are not going to cut off food and fuel because they don't want a collapse. Keep in mind also that Kim having atomic or hydrogen weapons neutralises Beijing's nuclear weapons arsenal (which is itself small by global nuclear club standards).

Edited January 10, 2016 by Publicus

Sydebolle · January 11, 2016

Well, the flip side of the coin is, that the US should pack up its presence in South Korea and go home (and if they are at it, maybe it would be a good thing everywhere else on the planet).

Once the US is gone, the North Koreans have no reason for hostility anymore and are also no longer supported by China; China made it crystal clear that they do not tolerate the US at their door step. Once the US is home, the Chinese stop supporting the clown (nota bene: he is rattling the cage in third generation after Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il - an achievement in itself!) then they are on their own. Latter means that North Korea will implode faster than anyone can breathe and the last Stalinist country has disappeared itself from the world map.

Wishful thinking I know but that's the way it will happen one day; we might not witness it anymore but just keep it in mind!

craigt3365 · January 11, 2016

As a taxpayer, I agree with you. Though there are many countries that are happy the US is there to help out. Kuwait is one that comes to mind.

Srikcir · January 11, 2016

"China rips the US off by unloading its crap duty free."

Can you provide a citation for this statement? I find nothing supporting 100% duty-free chinese imports.

The USA actually has very few international tariffs with any country and then they are usually quite low. Much of USA imports are covered by trade agreements that provide two-way trade benefits to both the importer and exporter countries. Tit for tat philosophy. Of course this does not preclude USA trade sanctions against countries for geopolitical purposes such as with North Korea, and formerly with Iran and Cuba.

About 78% of imports to the USA from developing countries have no tariffs, quota limits or other trade barriers. However, the USA does impose very high anti-dumping tariffs on products such as chinese steel and solar panels with up to 236%. The USA is not the business fool you think it is.

The existing 1999 China-USA Trade Agreement largely affects import tariffs, quotas, and other barriers placed on USA imports to China. The TA eliminates broad systemic barriers to USA exports, such as limits on who can import goods and distribute them in China as well as barriers such as quotas, insurance and licences that restrict imports of USA products.

Essentially, the 1999 TA equalizes the US-China trade relationship, albeit over a broad time period. Your idea is almost two decades late and would undo all the trade gains the USA has made to date with China.

Scott · January 11, 2016

Please stay on topic.

Publicus · January 11, 2016

&amp;nbsp;

The coin you flipped is a wood nickel.

The post reads like the preface to the unpublished manuscript, "Rand and Ron Paul Meet the Vichy French --- And They Love 'Em." At least Neville Chamberlain went home with a piece of paper, worthless as it was. The post doesn't minimally make any mention of paper of any kind.

CCP claims more land in Asia and to include offshore waters and islands than exists in China itself. The Korean peninsula hasd't ever been for Koreans alone, nor would it be for a long time to come (if ever). The Korean peninsula had always been the long trodden access route of the Chinese to invade Japan (never successfully...never). What anyway leads anyone to believe Kim Jong Il under any circumstance would, as a nuclear power, become a calm, reasonable and responsible regular guy leader. What?

CCP being Chinese continue to menace Japan. CCP threatens Taiwan. It wants all of the South China Sea which is an international waterway between East Asia and the oil of the Middle East to Asean, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan. Will Australia submit to becoming a satellite state of the CCP Dictators in Beijing?

CCP's territorial claims include Siberia in Russia and the northern third of India. China and Russia will not, cannot be partners forever, and India has at long last given CCP Dictators in Beijing the finger of peace. India is emerging in support of Asean and Japan vs CCP Dictators in Beijing, and as a major regional power. This relieves the US considerably of bilateral obligations and regional defense postures.

CCP Boyz in Beijing do not want North Korea. It is impoverished and backward. Neither do the South Koreans for the reason it cost Germany a fortune over 20 years to bring the East up to snuff from a far higher starting point than exists in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

You need to get a real nickel that has two silver sides to it. Most wood is dull.

Edited January 11, 2016 by Publicus

TheCruncher · January 11, 2016

China is crashing and very recently has sold almost $2 trillion in US treasuries to raise cash to operate.

I know you like to keep repeating this lie, but China has sold 150 Billion in Treasuries a far cry of 2 Trillion, and all the other major countries holding those treasuries have also been dumping them recently.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/14/what-china-selling-us-treasurys-really-means-commentary.html

If someone would have suggested, as recently as six months ago, that China would sell over $150 billion of U.S Treasurys in a handful of months, analysts would have warned of an impending disaster in the U.S. bond markets.

Well, guess what? China did just that and other global central banks have slashed their holdings of U.S. Treasurys with barely a ripple in the multi-trillion dollar bond market.

Edited January 11, 2016 by TheCruncher

neverdie · January 11, 2016

The topic should be about fear.

Irrational chest pumping happening from all angles.......somebody's bound to get hurt.

Living through dangerous times now and the human being is closer to extinction than he seems to realise.

Publicus · January 11, 2016

Look, nobody can afford a war in this -- literally the cost in bucks alone.

Anyone who thinks North Korea can afford in money terms to start a war of any kind, or to make a nuclear strike in any way would be out of his tree.

Kim Jong Il would know first and foremost his economy could not sustain an attack on South Korea (or Japan) for any more than a week at the most. NK does not have the resources across the board to support even a brief war.

CCP Dictators in Beijing are not going to assist. They have their own migraines over their own collapsing economy. Societe General last week estimated CCP have sold $1.2 Trillion of forex reserves. This is because CCP desperately needs usd.

As to the CNBC report in the post, here, picking up on the post, is more of the article discussing CCP sale of T-Bills and other instruments of its forex reserves....

Well, guess what? China did just that and other global central banks have slashed their holdings of U.S. Treasurys with barely a ripple in the multi-trillion dollar bond market.

Once again, the prophets of doom were wrong. And again, wrong for all the wrong reasons.

With the U.S. Treasury market among the most liquid and deepest markets in the world, China's bond sales were easily absorbed.

The other reason there was scant impact on U.S. interest rates is the desire, and/or requirement, among many financial institutions to hold high quality, long-dated bonds.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/14/what-china-selling-us-treasurys-really-means-commentary.html

Anyone who thinks the United States would ever place its national security into the hands of a foreign and evil government is nuts.

Some people do not have the facts in this respect. Others who do have the facts try to distort and mangle the facts. In the instance of the former, people need to become advised and informed of the recent developments and reality. In the latter the devious or the cynical must be corrected.

CCP can sell all their T-Bills this instant to zero effective impact on the US economy. It's never been any different except to the Brics fanboyz and their new world order of dictatorship. Interest on T-Bills have ticked a few clicks over or under the constant rate of 2%. It was predictable except to the fanboyz who inevitably will at some point again bring up gold also.

The people btw who are selling T-Bills from their foreign reserves are the usd desperate Brics and others whose economies are tanking, which means Russia, China, Brazil, and others such as Venezuela, Bolivia, Egypt etc etc.

2016 is not going to be a good year for Kim Jong Fat or for anyone who refuses to condemn him.

tonbridgebrit · January 11, 2016

Yes indeed, if the USA was to stop importing goods from China, yes, the economy in China would collapse pretty quickly and the Beijing government booted out.

However, the USA and the EU import massive amounts from China, and this is because the goods are cheaper. Putting a tariff on Chinese imports into America will raise prices in American shops, and this will not be accepted in America. China is not a democracy, but America is, and the American consumers will vote out any government that causes prices in Wal Mart and other retailers to rise.

Yes, North Korea can only survive through China. North Korea would probably be finished if it wasn't for China supporting them. It might be the case that Beijing is smirking quitely as North Korea gets a nuke. Kim's nukes are not aimed at China, China knows Kim won't bite the hand that feeds him. Kim's nukes are aimed at South Korea and Japan. Beijing might be secretly smirking at Japan under the threat of Kim's nukes. Beijing doesn't want to threaten Japan blatently and directly, the trade between China and Japan is huge, but their certainly is a rivalry between China and Japan. China still has a bit of anger from World War Two, and Japan knows this.

But I think we all accept that Kim has no real intent to attack South Korea and fire the nukes. He's only using them as a threat to gain aid and a gaurantee for survival from being attacked. Saying that, I wouldn't want to live in South Korea or Tokyo if Kim has a nuke. Kim doesn't need permission from anybody to pull the trigger. Young men get emotional sometimes.

2fishin2 · January 11, 2016

The US has done this type of posturing numerous times over the years sending B2, F22 and many other acft there. Nothing new at all.

tonbridgebrit · January 11, 2016

Correct, China does not want a unification with North Korea. And Beijing doesn't actually want a load of Koreans entering China if North Korea collapses. China has already got a vast pool of labour.

What about South Korea ? Does South Korea want re-unification with North Korea ? You're right, some people in South Korea don't want re-unification to happen. They know that tax money from the South will be used to re-build and support the North. Yes, when Germany got back together again, tax payers in West Germany basically bailed out East Germany.

But some Souh Koreans do actually long for the day when their nation is finally re-united. Family is family, blood is blood. Some people do feel "no matter how poor my brother is, I still want to see him and have him back in my life".

I wish to say right now, I condemn those South Koreans who don't want re-unification, they don't want it because they don't want to pay for re-building North Korea. Actually, South Korea has one of the lowest birth-rates in the world. They have an ageing population and labour shortages. It might benefit South Korea if they draft in a stack of new workers from the northern part of their Korea.

And about the US military in South Korea. Are they still going to be there after Korea is one nation and one family again ??

What is the point of American combat aircraft doing their posturing in Korea if Korea is one nation again ?

Does Washington want to see Korea divided, that way, Washington can still have it's combat aircraft in Korea ?

Publicus · January 11, 2016

China has already got a vast pool of labour.

Wrong again.

Nothing like it. CCP China has a labor shortage which is a part of the productivity problem and consumption too. The one child policy was changed because of the labor shortage (and the pension problem demographics going forward). Look up the data to learn something new every day. Looking at a population number of a billion plus is superficial and in itself and in this instance leads to faulty conclusions pulled in out of the blue.

I condemn those South Koreans who don't want re-unification

Congratulations on your moral high ground where blood is thicker than won and where if you look around is in fact a gulch. Regardless, when I went to South Korea in 1996 everyone there said reunification in ten years. In 2002 after I'd gone to Thailand (in 1998) I asked some S Korean friends and they said ten years till unification. In 2008 I asked again and they said no sooner than ten years but then, unfortunately, maybe longer. Same now. The vast majority do not want it. It's too bloody expensive. And it would take much longer than ten years after reunification to integrate the two Korean populations. Too much trouble now.

And about the US military in South Korea. Are they still going to be there after Korea is one nation and one family again ??

What is the point of American combat aircraft doing their posturing in Korea if Korea is one nation again ?

Does Washington want to see Korea divided, that way, Washington can still have it's combat aircraft in Korea ?

The questions come from the mind working overtime.

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Powerful US bomber flies over S. Korea as standoff deepens

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