NK reveals arrival of B-1B bombers

North Korean state media reported Tuesday that two U.S. B-1B Lancer strategic bombers conducted a “nuclear bombing drill” the previous day over waters near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).

The South Korean military confirmed the arrival of the U.S. planes hours after the North Korean report.

Flights of U.S. bombers over the Korean Peninsula have repeatedly been made known through North Korea this year.

“The United States made a grave military provocation yet again, bringing its notorious B-1B bombers into South Korean airspace for a nuclear bombing drill,” the Korean Central News Agency (KNCA) said.

It added the aircraft flew over the waters 80 kilometers east of Gangneung, which is close to the MDL on the east coast, after taking off from the U.S. military base in Guam.

The bombers were joined by fighter jets from both the South Korean Air Force and the USS Carl Vinson, a U.S. nuclear-powered super carrier operating in the East Sea.

“They frantically carried out drills aimed at a surgical strike of our major facilities,” the KCNA said. “Such military provocation is an extremely dangerous act that puts the peninsula on the brink of a nuclear war. The U.S. imperialists should not forget it will only accelerate the U.S. mainland being burned to the ground.”

After the report, the South Korean military said the two B-1B bombers conducted drills for over two hours in the East Sea with F-15Ks and a strike group led by USS Carl Vin- son.

Previously, the U.S. sent B1-B bombers to the peninsula March 1 and March 15.

The South Korean military confirmed the exercise only after it was reported by the North Korean media.

Meanwhile, the KCNA said the Donald Trump administration’s softened gesture on the Kim Jong-un regime was “hypocrisy.”

“Such a measure is merely intended to disarm us and it is clear that the plan to annihilate us remains unchanged,” it said.