US Air Force just flew B-1 bombers, which fired releasing inert weapons, over the Pilsung Range in North Korea. The mission took 10 hours, according to the statement. I was not expecting to wake up to this news, but I knew something was going on as planes flew over my home last night in an unusual thunderous noise. The two B-1 bombers flew 2,000 miles from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam to conduct a precision strike training exercise with South Korean fighter jets. The bombers were also joined by Japanese fighters during their flight. These missions are called “Jungle Lightening” by the Air Force. The mission was called a “demonstration of the ironclad U.S. commitment to our allies.”
“North Korea’s actions are a threat to our allies, partners and homeland,” Gen. Terrence O’ Shaughnessy, the Pacific Air Forces commander, said. “Let me be clear, if called upon we are trained, equipped and ready to unleash the full lethal capability of our allied air forces.”
Frankly, I can understand why this mission was planned and carried out. I applaud the fact that they did not use authentic weapons; instead, they are testing Kim to see what his reaction will be. So I am ready for anything within the next 24 hours.
Published on Jul 8, 2017
As part of the continuing demonstration of the ironclad U.S. commitment to our allies against the growing threat from North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs, two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam conducted a 10-hour sequenced bilateral mission with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets, July 7. The mission is in response to a series of increasingly escalatory actions by North Korea, including a launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on July 3.
“North Korea’s actions are a threat to our allies, partners and homeland,” said General Terrence O’ Shaughnessy, Pacific Air Forces commander. “Let me be clear, if called upon we are trained, equipped and ready to unleash the full lethal capability of our allied air forces.”
The B-1Bs flew to the Korean Peninsula where they were joined by South Korean F-15 fighter jets and U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jets. The B-1Bs practiced attack capabilities by releasing inert weapons at the Pilsung Range.
“This mission clearly demonstrates the U.S.-ROK alliance remains prepared to use the full range of capabilities to defend and to preserve the security of the Korean Peninsula and region,” said Lt. Gen. Thomas Bergeson, U.S. Forces Korea deputy commander. En route back to Guam, the B-1Bs flew and integrated with Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-2 fighter jets over the East China Sea.
“The U.S.-Japan alliance and the relationship between our militaries are stronger than they have ever been,” said Lt. Gen. Jerry P. Martinez, U.S. Forces Japan commander. “We continue to train with our Japanese allies to ensure we are ready to defend ourselves from attack.”
A North Korean test of an ICBM is a momentous step forward for Pyongyang, as it works to build an arsenal of long-range nuclear-armed missiles that can hit anywhere in the United States. Although the North isn’t quite there yet, some analysts say It could hit Alaska right now. A successful launch of an ICBM has long been seen as a red line, after which it would only be a matter of time if the country isn’t challenged.
President Trump said North Korea’s plan to develop an ICBM capable of hitting the U.S. “won’t happen” and has since made tough talk on the issue a signature. Although I do not want to see war, the US had to do something. Of course, this is my opinion only.
Pacific Command maintains flexible bomber and jet fighter capabilities in the Indo-Asia-Pacific theater, retaining the ability to quickly respond to any regional threat in order to defend the U.S. homeland and in support of our allies.
Lets explore the question “how did North Korea ever manage to create an ICBM with the capability of reaching Alaska?”
North Korea is an isolated Country where most citizens don’t have access to the Internet or the means to travel abroad. It has been reported that North Korea is so poor that there is almost “no supply of concrete, bricks or window glass. People suffer shortages of rice, gasoline and even underwear.” If this is true, I would say it is because Kim hoards all the wealth and cares nothing for his people. Yet, they have to be getting help from someone, but I have read they are very self-sufficient.
And yet… it’s been able to expand its weapons technology at an astounding rate. Earlier this week, it test launched an intercontinental ballistic missile that experts say could have reached Alaska. How has the North been able to make big weaponry advances that experts considered a couple of years away at best?
“When you have a strategic line, a single-minded focus on nuclear and economic development, and you’re able to politically mobilize and entire state infrastructure to that end, it provides a lot of potential momentum,” says Scott A. Snyder, a North Korea expert and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. “That’s what Kim Jung Un has done.”
North Korea launched its missile development program in 1980. At first, its strategy was to buy old Soviet missiles from third parties such as Egypt and Syria, says John Schilling, a North Korea expert and aerospace engineer who contributes to 38 North, a website devoted to events concerning North Korea. Once the North Korean engineers had the old missiles, they reverse-engineered them so that they could produce their own copies. The country imported experience too, Schilling says. As the Soviet Union neared collapse, North Korea hired Russian engineers who weren’t being paid at home. They brought them to Pyongyang to both work directly on North Korean programs, and to train North Koreans.
President Trump has warned North Korea, just as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has.
Despite the sabre-rattling, the United States and South Korea have said they are committed to resolving the crisis over the North’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile peacefully. This is good to know, and I believe they are sincere. However, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Friday in Hamburg, where the leaders of G20 nations are meeting, there “would not be many good options left on North Korea if the peaceful pressure campaign failed.”
U.S. President Donald Trump vowed on Thursday to confront the North “very strongly” and said Washington was considering “severe things” for the isolated state following the ICBM test. The United States, Japan, and South Korea agreed on Friday to push for a quick U.N. Security Council resolution to put new sanctions on North Korea.
On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Trump, Moon, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to apply “maximum pressure” to counter the North nuclear threat. North Korea has hailed the ICBM test as marking the completion of is strategic weapons capability that it says includes atomic and hydrogen bombs.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited a mausoleum honoring state founder Kim Il Sun on Saturday, the anniversary of his grandfather’s death, the North’s official KCNA news agency reported. He was joined by military officials who contributed to the success of the ICBM test, the news agency said.
(Reporting by Heekyong Yang; Editing by Jack Kim, Robert Birsel)
In conclusion, my instincts tell me that Kim wants war, and he will not stop until he gets it. At the same time, I do not believe in regime change wars, and I am praying my Country understands all the US has accomplished with these types of wars is creating vacuums for terrorists. However, this does not appear to be a typical regime change plan. It seems to be an act of self-defense which happens to be necessary.
Lets see what the always important Charles Krauthammer has to say: www.kansas.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/article160228634.html
Across 25 years and five administrations, we have kicked the North Korean can down the road. We are now out of the road. On July 4, North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile apparently capable of hitting the US. As yet, only Alaska. Soon, every American city.
Moreover, Pyongyang claims to have already fitted miniaturized nuclear warheads on intermediate range missiles. Soon, on ICBMs. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s initial reaction to this game changer was not encouraging. “Global action is required to stop a global threat,” he declared.
This, in diplo-speak, is a cry for multilateral help. Alas, there will be none. Because, while this is indeed a global threat, there is no such thing as global interests. There are individual national interests and they diverge. In this case, radically.
The latest North Korean missile is menacing not just because of its 4,000 mile range, but because it is road mobile. And the transporter comes from China!
There you have it in a nutshell. I agree with him totally, and as of late, I have not. He has it right on target today. Get ready for a North Korean reaction to a United States necessary action.