B-52s Operate South of Cheju Island August 1

[soryang]

Channel A Top Ten News reported that a section of B-52s from Guam operated in the South China Sea south of Cheju Island on August 1. The nuclear capable aircraft conducted a strategic attack exercise mission according to the report. This mission as well as the B52 exercise with Japanese fighter aircraft on July 27, Armistice anniversary day in Korea, were interpreted, to be a part of the maximum pressure strategy on North Korea, because of the apparent "stalemate" in the denuclearization of North Korea. As part of the August 1 exercise the B-52s were joined by a P-8 Poseidon aircraft.

In the program a number of recent statements by John Bolton, the US national security advisor, were reported. He stated that the US had fulfilled its obligations under the summit declaration, that North Korea had failed to honor its promise to denuclearize, and that there would be no easing of sanctions. These matters were subject to disagreement among the so called "six parties" with a direct interest in denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers conference last week. The B-52 missions which took place both before and during the ASEAN conference demonstrated the ability of the United States to conduct strategic missions while staying some distance from the Korean peninsula. This reflects apparent understandings reached in relation to the Singapore summit, which resulted in suspension of US-ROK joint military exercises which were viewed as provocative by North Korea.