North Korea threatens US airbases as B-52 drills begin over South Korea
North Korea has issued a threat against the US military bases in and around Japan as part of a response to the US B-52 bombers joint drills with South Korea.
The threat comes on March 21, a day after Pyongyang condemned the B-52 flights as an “unpardonable provocation” and threatened military action if they continue.
“The United States is advised not to forget that our precision target tools have within their range the Anderson Air Force base on Guam where the B-52 takes off, as well as the Japanese mainland where nuclear-powered submarines are deployed and the navy bases on Okinawa,” the North Korean command spokesman was quoted by KCNA news agency.
The Pentagon confirmed that B-52s, taking off from Andersen Air Force base in Guam, had flown over South Korea as part of annual joint exercises that Pyongyang insist are a rehearsal for provocation.
“We cannot tolerate the US carrying out nuclear strike drills, setting us as targets, and advertising them as strong warning messages,” a spokesman for the North’s supreme army command said.
The US deputy defense secretary highlighted the B-52 capabilities during discussions this week, saying that the aircraft is are capable of carrying nuclear weapons as is the USS Chayenne nuclear-powered submarine, which is also taking part in the exercises.
B-52s have taken part in South Korea-US joint exercises before, but the Pentagon said it had publicized their use this time to underline US commitment to defending its South Korean ally.
[…] exercises, that ended in late April, as a rehearsal for an attack on its territory. The regime had threatened US bases as well as South Korea during the […]