In a display of military might, the US today flew a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber along with F-16s and South Korean F-15s close to a defiant North Korea, days after Pyongyang claimed it had successfully tested its first hydrogen bomb and ratcheted up regional tensions.
"This was a demonstration of the ironclad US commitment to our allies in South Korea, in Japan, and to the defense of the American homeland," said Admiral Harry B Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command.
"North Korea's nuclear test is a blatant violation of its international obligations. US joint military forces in the Indo-Asia-Pacific will continue to work with all of our regional allies and partners to maintain stability and security," he said after the flyover.
The bilateral flight mission over Osan Air Base, some 100-km from the North Korean border, demonstrates the strength of the alliance between the United States and South Korea and the resolve of both nations to maintain stability and security on the Korean Peninsula, PACOM said in a statement.
The display of military might came as North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un today justified his country's first hydrogen bomb test as self-defence to prevent nuclear war with the US, in his first comments since the explosion.
The test was "a self-defensive step for reliably defending the peace on the Korean Peninsula and the regional security from the danger of nuclear war caused by the US-led imperialists," Kim was quoted as saying.
"It is the legitimate right of a sovereign state and a fair action that nobody can criticise," he added, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim as saying during a visit to the Ministry of People's Armed Forces to congratulate them on the "successful" detonation.
The B-52, capable of carrying nuclear weapons and part of the US Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific, was flanked by a US F-16 and a South Korean F-15. Upon completion of the flight, it returned to Guam.
"The flight demonstrates the strength and capabilities of the Alliance," said Gen Curtis M Scaparrotti, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, US Forces Korea commander.
"The close military cooperation between the US and the Republic of Korea ensures we are ready to respond at any time to those who would threaten stability and security," he said.
