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Turning to heightened defense posture resulting from North Korea's fourth nuclear test.
The U.S. deployed a B-52 strategic bomber over the Korean Peninsula on Sunday,... to
show it is well prepared for any additional provocations from the North.
Our Defense Ministry Correspondent Kim Hyun-bin is at the ministry of National Defense in
Seoul. Hyun-bin the Strato-fortress soaring above
the skies in Korea, quite a sight.
Daniel, the B-52 left its home base in Guam on Sunday morning and arrived at Osan Air
Base in Gyeonggi-do province at noon. Military officials from the U.S. and South
Korea said in a statement... the bomber was equipped with nuclear missiles and bunker
buster bombs that are capable of targeting underground facilities.
"B-52 missions reinforce the U.S. commitment to the security of our allies and partners
and demonstrate one of the many alliance capabilities available in the defense of the Republic of
Korea." The bomber was accompanied by two South Korean
F-15Ks and two U.S. F-16s and flew over Osan before returning to Guam.
It only takes four hours for the bomber to get to the Korean peninsula from its home
base in Guam,... and the B-52 is capable of bombing targets that are three-thousand kilometers
away. The deployment was arranged as part of the
nuclear umbrella the U.S. provides to its Northeast Asian ally.
The statement says... the deployment is to warn North Korea that South Korea and the
U.S. are prepared to retaliate if the North conducts any additional provocations.
The two allies also said they plan to take further military counteractions down the road
in the wake of the North Korean nuclear test. Seoul-based Yonhap News reports that could
include an additional deployment of the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, which
is currently based in Japan, and F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets.
Hyun-bin, I hear that Korea's defense chief paid a visit to South Korea's missile command
yesterday. What can you tell us about that?
South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo visited the missile command on Saturday and
called on the troops to retaliate speedily and accurately and without hesitation to any
provocations by North Korea. South Korean defense minister visits missile
command to encourage troops} Han's visit is part of a series of military counteractions
South Korea has taken after the North's nuclear test.
South Korea resumed its anti-North loudspeaker broadcasts along the inter-Korean border on
Friday, prompting North Korea to resume its own loudspeaker broadcasts later in the day.
Han says missile command strikes fear in South Korea's enemies} Han said the missile command
gives the South Korean people confidence and strikes fear in South Korea's enemies, adding
that it will become a core strike unit of the Kill Chain system.
The missile unit is in charge of countering North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
Back to you.