B-2 bombers fly over in show of force against NK

A nuclear-capable B-2 from the U.S. 509th Bomber Wing flies over Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. The strategic bomber, which flew nonstop from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. to Korea, participated in the Foal Eagle exercise and carried out a practice bombing run. / Yonhap

By Kang Seung-woo

In a strong show of force against North Korea, two B-2 U.S. stealth bombers took part in an annual joint military exercise Thursday.

The inclusion of the hi-tech aircraft came shortly after the defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their joint commitment to fight together in the event of any provocative action taken by North Korea.

The Korea-United Combined Forces Command (CFC) announced that the strategic bombers, capable of launching nuclear-armed missiles, carried out a bombing drill as part of the Foal Eagle exercise which is scheduled to run through April 30.

"Demonstrating the commitment of the United States and its capability to defend South Korea, the U.S. Strategic Command sent two B-2 Spirit bombers for a long-duration, round-trip training mission from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to Korea," the CFC said in a statement.

The warplanes dropped bombs on the Jik-do Range in coastal waters off Gunsan, North Jeolla Province and then returned to their base, the CFC added.

"As the B-2 has a radar-evading stealth function, it can penetrate anti-aircraft defenses to drop conventional and nuclear weapons," a senior military official said.

"It is the strategic weapon most feared by North Korea."

The B-2 is part of one of three systems supporting the U.S. nuclear umbrella to ensure deterrence against nuclear threats along with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and sea launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

Additional to the stealth aircraft, B-52 bombers, another nuclear-capable warplane, and a nuclear-powered attack submarine the USS Cheyenne were also involved in the military drill, amounting to a strong show of U.S. determination regarding North Korea amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The training run of the B-2s took place hours after the South Korean and U.S. defense chiefs discussed military commitments and strategies in a phone call. According to the Ministry of National Defense (MND), Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin agreed with his U.S. counterpart Chuck Hagel "not to tolerate the North's dedication to expanding programs for nuclear missiles and weapons of mass destruction (WMD)," making it clear that North Korea would be held responsible for any aggressive action.

The U.S. Department of Defense described the alliance as instrumental in maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula.

"The secretary highlighted the steadfast U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea, including extended deterrence capabilities, and pointed to the recently signed ROK-U.S. counter provocation plan as a mechanism to enhance consultation and coordination of alliance responses to North Korean aggression," said Pentagon Press Secretary George Little.

The two countries came up with a new joint operational plan that will provide a joint military response to low-level provocations by the North, similar to when it sunk the naval ship Cheonan and shelled Yeonpyeong Island in March and November 2010, respectively.

The ministers also discussed a recently announced U.S. plan to increase U.S. ground-based interceptors and early warning and tracking radar in response to the North Korean threat.

The phone conversation comes one day after the Kim Jong-un regime cut off the military hotline near the Yellow Sea that facilitates cross border trips to the Kaesong Industrial Complex in the North. On Tuesday, the isolated state announced that all its artillery and missile units were at combat ready status, targeting the U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Guam.

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