U.S. Flies Stealth Bombers Over South Korea: WSJ

Updated March 28, 2013, 11:10 a.m. ET

By ALASTAIR GALE

The Wall Street Journal

SEOUL—-The U.S. said it flew two B-2 stealth bombers on a training run over South Korea on Thursday as part of its war games, a move publicized to demonstrate deterrence as North Korea continues to threaten its neighbors and the U.S.

The nuclear-capable B-2 bombers flew from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to a bombing range in South Korea, dropped inert munitions, and returned to the U.S. in a single, continuous mission, the U.S. Forces Command in South Korea said.

The mission was part of annual joint military exercises between South Korea and the U.S. that run through April 30, but it was the first time a training run by the advanced bomber over South Korea had been made public.

In Washington, military officials said the flights were meant as a show of resolve, aimed at standing up to what Washington sees as increasingly aggressive behavior from North Korea.

Washington has been beefing up its joint exercises with South Korea and has added flights of its nuclear capable air craft near the Korean Peninsula, first B-52 bombers and now the B-2 stealth planes.

"You will continue to see advanced capability added to the mix," said a defense official in Washington.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel also spoke Thursday with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin on the phone and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea, according to a U.S. Department of Defense statement.

The use of the B-2s, which are designed to evade radar and penetrate air defenses to drop bombs on heavily protected targets, is the strongest response yet to North Korea's recent bellicosity. The flights, officials said, weren't meant to be seen as a threat of a pre-emptive nuclear strike but rather a reminder of the abilities of long-range American bombers. More importantly, officials said, the B-2s were meant to reiterate that North Korea won't be able to detect the most advanced U.S. weaponry near its airspace.

U.S. officials said the goal of the flight wasn't to ratchet up tensions, but over time, to bring them down by showing strength in the face of North Korea's actions.

North Korea responded to confirmation of the B-52 flights by threatening U.S. military bases in Guam and Japan with attack. It had no immediate reaction to the announcement of the B-2 flights.

North Korea has repeatedly said it is prepared to attack South Korea, Japan and the U.S. if necessary in recent weeks as it reacts to international sanctions imposed in response to its Feb. 12 nuclear test and the annual military drills in the South.

Most analysts don't expect North Korea to stage an attack on the U.S. or its allies and it isn't thought to have the missile technology to hit long-range targets. But its heated rhetoric has raised concerns of a sudden escalation of conflict in the event of a small-scale incident such as exchange of fire with South Korea.

Its successful satellite launch in December using long-range rocket technology and nuclear test have also triggered concerns that it is making progress in being able to mount a nuclear device on a long-range missile.

On March 26, the U.S. and South Korea signed a military contingency plan to respond to possible attacks from North Korea and the U.S. has said it would install additional missile inceptors on the West Coast in response to the threat from North Korea.

According to North Korean state media, dictator Kim Jong Eun gave a speech at a meeting of senior military officials and information workers of the North Korean army on Thursday at which he reiterated that Pyongyang considered the Korean War armistice agreement nullified and a "fuse of a war is kindled."

On Wednesday, North Korea severed the last remaining military communications link with the South.

—Julian E. Barnes in Washington contributed to this article.

Source:  http://online.wsj.com