US nuclear strategic bombers approach North Korea

Two US Air Force B-1B bombers approached the Korean peninsula on November 2 amid escalating tensions in the region.

B-1B bomber. Photo: Reuters

News agencyYonhap"Two B-1B Lancers took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guan Island, over southern South Korea and western Japan, coordinating operations with Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighters," the US Air Force said in a statement.

The statement also added: “Two B-1Bs also coordinated operations with South Korean fighter jets in the Yellow Sea.”

Escorted by South Korean fighter jets, US planes practiced dropping nuclear bombs on key targets in North Korea.

The two aircraft returned to base at the end of the mission. According to the statement, the mission was pre-planned and was not related to any current developments.

Meanwhile, North Korea’s KCNA news agency criticized the US move as “intimidation”. KCNA also accused the US of deploying three aircraft carrier strike groups in waters near the Korean peninsula of making the situation there worse.

The move comes just before US President Donald Trump departs for his first official trip to Asia today, November 3. During this trip, President Trump will visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The White House said the visit will focus largely on how to stop the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

According to Dantri