During a practice involving South Korean and American jets, North Korea warned to take “quick, overwhelming action” if the US flew a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber over the Korean Peninsula.
The warning was issued by Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, as joint military drills between the United States and South Korea continue.
“We keep our watch on the restless military actions by the U.S. forces and the South Korean puppet military and are always on standby to take appropriate, fast and overwhelming action at any time according to our judgment,” Kim Yo Jong said in the statement, as published by state media.
According to her, “North Korea is clearly given the conditions for being pushed to do anything to deal with them by the demonstrative military movements and all kinds of rhetoric by the U.S. and South Korea, which go so incredibly frenzied as to not be disregarded.”
The flyover that took place on Monday and Tuesday was denounced by the foreign ministry of North Korea as well.
An anonymous ministry official described it as a careless provocation that drags the peninsula “deeper into the abysmal bog” in another statement.
The statement added: “There is no guarantee that there will be no violent physical combat” if the combined military exercises continue.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry justified the use of the B-52’s deployment in Monday’s drill, saying it showcased the capabilities of the U.S. and South Korea to prevent North Korean aggressions.
The United States has sent long-range B-1B bombers or multiple B-1B bombers to the peninsula previously.
Earlier diplomatic initiatives and the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation or reduction of the joint military exercises. Since then, they have intensified, particularly in light of North Korea’s expansion of its ballistic missile program, record-breaking number of missile tests, and overt threat to use nuclear weapons.
