US Responds To North Korean Nuke Test, Flies B-52 Over South Korea

On Tuesday, North Korea announced it had “successfully” tested a hydrogen bomb.

According to Kim Jong-Un, the test was necessary because America is “a gang of cruel robbers” hell bent on waging nuclear war. “This is a self-defensive step for reliably defending the peace on the Korean Peninsula and regional security from the danger of nuclear war caused by the U.S.-led imperialists,” Kim said.

Subsequently, experts weighed in, noting that based on the device’s yield, it likely wasn’t a “true” H-bomb. Nevertheless, analysts said the test showed the North’s nuclear program is evolving, a decidedly unwelcome prospect for Washington’s ally in Seoul.

In a hilariously absurd retaliatory measure, the South resumed anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts across the DMZ.

Adding insult to injury, the loudspeakers were fired back up on Kim’s birthday.

That prompted the North to declare that the peninsula is “on the brink of war.” Now, for the second time in six months, tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang have reached a fever pitch.

And so, just as The Pentagon was "forced" to send a warship and a B-52 to the Spratlys to deter Chinese "aggression", the US conducted a B-52 flight in South Korea on Sunday. 

"The bomber, which can carry nuclear weapons, flew over the Osan Air Base about 45 miles south of the inter-Korean border around midday local time, the U.S. military said," WSJ writes, adding that "the B-52, based in Guam, was joined by American and South Korean fighter planes before returning home."

“This was a demonstration of the ironclad U.S. commitment to our allies in South Korea, in Japan, and to the defense of the American homeland,” Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of the U.S. Pacific Command said. Here are a series of amusing tweets from Pacific Command's official Twitter account:

[1/4] Responding to unlawful #NorthKorea nuclear test, a @USAirForce B-52 conducted a low-level flight over the ROK https://t.co/WD0ZPqf4rT

— U.S. Pacific Command (@PacificCommand) January 10, 2016

[2/4] The B-52 took off from #Andersen AFB, #Guam, and was escorted by @PACAF F-16 and #ROKAF F-15 fighters. pic.twitter.com/5K3rQUdKgZ

— U.S. Pacific Command (@PacificCommand) January 10, 2016

[3/4] This bilateral mission demonstrates U.S. and ROK
resolve to maintain stability and security on the Peninsula. pic.twitter.com/MFtB2dTxaz

— U.S. Pacific Command (@PacificCommand) January 10, 2016

[4/4] US demonstrated "ironclad commitment to our allies in South Korea, in Japan, and to the defense of the American homeland." -#ADMHarris

— U.S. Pacific Command (@PacificCommand) January 10, 2016

Kim didn't immediately respond to the show of force, but as The Journal dryly notes, the North "typically calls such action evidence of the U.S.’s intention to invade."

Obviously, Washington has no interest in "invading" the North, but the US is quite adept at making a bad situation worse, and sure enough, Yonhap is out reporting that Ash Carter may deploy a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the Korean peninsula next month for joint naval "exercises" with Seoul, a move which is sure to infuriate Pyongyang.

In reality, the most effective way to counter Kim would likely be to simply ignore him. Responding to the North's sabre rattling effectively legitimizes Kim's threats and sends a message to the North Korean people that the regime actually has some shred of international credibility. In short, it's critical for Kim to perpetuate a narrative that revolves around a kind of epic, ongoing struggle between the DPRK and America. The US plays into that when Washington does things like fly B-52s near Kim's borders. As soon as North Koreans figure out it's all a charade, the music will stop for Kim. 

Comments

[o r c k]

Sing it : "enemies-we've got enemies - right here in River City"

[bid the soldier...]

Remember when the US sent 2 B-52s over the Chinese Air Defense Zone in the South China Sea?

Two U.S. military aircraft flew into China's newly claimed and challenged air defense zone over the East China Sea, a U.S. official said, an action that could inflame tensions between the world powers.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/26/world/asia/china-us-b52s/

That shook the Chinese up so much they sold even more US Treasury bonds than they had planned on.

(one B-52 is much more intimidating than 2 B-52s, isn't that so Asshole Carter)

[Dr. Bonzo]

We'll take your 1947 AN-2s and raise you a 1950s bomber!!!! LMAO... fucking clowns at the Pentacon.

[dogbert8]

Was the B-52 dropping sternly-worded letters, perhaps?

[Yen Cross]

  I think SAC was just having some fun.. Most of the nuclear capable B-52's have been reconfigured with Hi Bypass turbofans.

 That old turbojet x8 configuration has been mostly phased out.

[Macon Richardson]

Wow! B-52s and a whole lot of Photoshopped pictures! Take that, North Korea!

[IronForge]

"US Responds to DPK Nuke Test.  Flies B-52 Over KOR, which drops a engine nacelle and landing gear Mid-Flight..."

That's how it should have played out...

[onmail1]

Yeah & the next step would be 

N.Korea starts selling Nukes

to anyone ready to pay the moolah

say 10 billion $ for each

sell 10 nukes to evry country that wants it

and N.Korean economy would be booming

---------

Btw thumbs up to DPRK aka N.Korea

Its the evil exploitative policies of America, Europe & their allies 

That is causing this 

---------

Present state of affairs :

CabalA$$LickerLiarAddictHomObamma :

'We have to twist arms when countries don't do what we need them to'

The former slave wants all to become slaves 

to America