US flexes muscles, provokes DPRK with B-52 in joint drill with S.Korea

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Mar 13:06

The move is considered a fresh military provocation, destabilizing the regional security of East Asia.

A B-52 Stratofortress flying over Afghanistan (Reuters)

South Korea's Defense Ministry said the United States deployed a B-52 bomber for a joint drill with its ally South Korea on Monday.

The move is considered a fresh military provocation, further destabilizing the regional security of East Asia.

The air drill comes ahead of a joint large-scale exercise, which will reportedly include an amphibious landing later this month. DPRK has routinely urged for the cancellation of joint drills, characterizing them as a precursor to invasion.

This comes in light of a recent announcement made by the US and South Korea that the two are planning to carry out joint military drills, dubbed the "Freedom Shield" exercises, this month in order to strengthen allies' "defense" capabilities.

The drills are scheduled to take place annually from March 13 to March 23. No breaks are scheduled to be held in between.

This will also mark the longest-ever version of a joint computer simulation command post-exercise.

It is worth noting that South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday that the DPRK renewed its pledge to boost its nuclear arsenal in a bid to restore regional security after several months of provocations initiated by the US and South Korea's side.

The DPRK's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the US was responsible for spearheading the collapse of international arms control systems.

"Nuclear deterrence ensures a balance of power in the region and a strong physical security to prevent the outbreak of a new war," as per the statement issued by the DPRK.

The statement added that the buildup of unilateral arms between the US and its allies has worsened the risk of a potential escalation in the Korean Peninsula.