Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ajosshi]

U.S. flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers on training missions over SK

WASHINGTON (AP) � The United States is flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers on training missions over South Korea to highlight Washington's commitment to defend an ally amid rising tensions with North Korea, Pentagon officials said Monday.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said one B-52 flew over South Korea on March 8, and the deputy defense secretary, Ashton Carter, said during a visit to Seoul that another bomber mission is scheduled for Tuesday.

B-52 bombers are capable of launching nuclear-armed cruise missiles, but Little said those participating in the Korean exercise are not armed with nuclear weapons.

The use of Air Force warplanes as part of an annual U.S.-South Korean military exercise called Foal Eagle is not unusual. But the Pentagon used the occasion to draw attention to the role B-52 bombers play as part of an American nuclear "umbrella" over South Korea and Japan � both of which feel threatened by North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.

"We're deeply concerned about North Koreans behavior and rhetoric," Little told reporters.

In a more dramatic demonstration of that concern, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Friday announced that the U.S. is beefing up its defenses against a potential North Korean missile attack on the U.S. He said that over the coming four years the Pentagon will add 14 missile interceptors to the 26 it already has in place at Fort Greely, Alaska, at an estimated cost of $1 billion.

Hagel cited three recent developments in North Korea that prompted the Obama administration to act, including a nuclear test in February deemed reckless by Washington and condemned by the United Nations Security Council.

Hagel also cited Pyongyang's launch in December of a rocket that put a satellite into space and demonstrated mastery of some of the technologies needed to produce a long-range nuclear missile. And he noted that last April the North Koreans put on public display a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile, the KN-08. Navy Adm. James Winnefeld Jr., vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that missile is believed to be capable of reaching U.S. territory.

Although not mentioned by Hagel, the North Koreas raised tensions further by threatening last Thursday to pre-emptively attack the U.S. Among its recent declarations, North Korea has said it will no longer recognize the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War, though it has made such remarks before.

Carter said in Seoul on Monday that he discussed with South Korean officials the North's "continued pattern of provocative actions" and offered assurances that the budget crisis in Washington will not weaken the U.S. military commitment to South Korea.

North Korea routinely condemns U.S. and South Korean military exercises as provocations and unwarranted preparations for war.

http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2013/03/18/pentagon-highlighting-bomber-missions-in-korea

[rollo]

sabre rattling to make South korea and Japan feel better. Nothing new. Just reminding Beijing who is the boss.

[No_hite_pls]

[young_clinton]

Totally unnecessary.

[Steelrails]

You do realize this article means absolutely nothing.

Do you have any idea how many "nuclear capable" systems there are out there? Pretty much any aircraft in the U.S., or for that matter S.Korean, arsenal is "nuclear capable". Heck a 747 is "nuclear capable" in that you could throw Little Boy out of the cargo hatch and nuke whatever is below. I can't think of a single U.S. combat aircraft (Fighter/Bomber/Ground Attack) now in service that wouldn't be capable of carrying out a nuclear strike.

B-52s have been in the US arsenal for over 50 years. There is hardly a country on Earth that they haven't flown a mission over. Really? A B-52 flying a training mission over S.Korea is rare? Is newsworthy? Really?

The US and SK both possess "nuclear capable" artillery, and air/land/sea launched cruise missiles. Of course in SK's case, they lack the warheads.

This is what I constantly rant about on Dave's when it comes to Dave's. The fear-mongering from people utterly clueless as to what they are talking about.

And this article is just fear-mongering and hyperbole.

[rollo]

Still the most powerful conventional weapon sytem on earth. they can carry three flat bed rail cars of bombs.

i saw nothing 'fear mongering" about the article. it even stated that this was nothing unusual.

Sk planes might be able to deliver a small nuke but since they don't have a small nuke no use mentioning it.

The U.S. in fact can deliver a nuclear artillery shell.

Just another day a the office. they are just pointing out the the new bridges the Chinese have built to send military equipment into North korea can be wiped out in seconds.

Also lets the koreans and the Japanese know they are safe.

[Steelrails]

[comm]

[rollo]

You are correct about the norks not likeing the new bridges. they also do not like the huge number of Chinese troops on their border. but i think what really really upsets everyone that P.L.A maps shows Korea as Chinese territory.

[ajosshi]

[Steelrails]

DP

[Kuros]

[Steelrails]

[rollo]

of course it was a routine flight and no it was not arrmed with a nuclear device. They would not take the chance of a mishap in a war zone, where anything could happen.
But it still was a message.

[OneWayTraffic]

I'm sure the USA have nukes on those aircraft. That way they can crash on over the DMZ 'by mistake' and give the Norks the missiles. That way when the North Koreans nuke Seoul, America will have a brilliant excuse to go over and kick butt.

I'd like to tell you more, but I hear the sound of approaching helicoters...