U.S. flies Stealth bomber practice raids over South Korea

Reuters
March 28, 2013


One of three Air Force Global Strike Command B-2 Spirit bombers returns to home base at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, March 20, 2011 after striking targets in support of the international response which is enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya. REUTERS/Kenny Holston/U.S. Air Force photo/Handout
SEOUL | Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:43am EDT
(Reuters) - The United States flew two Stealth practice bombing runs over South Korea on Thursday, an exercise bound to infuriate North Koreawhich already threatened both countries with nuclear attack.
An official with the U.S. military said two B-2, or Stealth, bombers flew from an air base in Missouri to South Korea as part of Foal Eagle war drills being held with South Korea.
The exercise is not likely to go unnoticed in Pyongyang which has raised its rhetoric against the United States in response to new U.N. sanctions imposed after its third nuclear test in February.
The U.S. military announced on March 15 it was bolstering missile defenses in response to threats from the North, including a threat to conduct a preemptive nuclear strike against the United States.
Despite the shrill words, few believe North Korea, formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will risk starting a full-out war.
North and South Korea are still technically at war anyway after their 1950-53 civil conflict ended with an armistice, not a treaty, which the North says it has since torn to pieces.
(Reporting by Jack Kim; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Vicki Allen)

No comments: