US flies nuke bombers above Korean peninsula

SEOUL: South Korean and Japanese jets joined exercises with two United States nuclearcapable bombers above and near the Korean peninsula yesterday, two days after North Korea fired a missile over Japan, sharply raising tension.

The drills involved two supersonic US B-1B bombers, four US stealth F-35B jets as well as South Korean and Japanese fighter jets.

“This complex mission clearly demonstrates our solidarity with our allies and underscores the broadening cooperation to defend against this common regional threat,” said US Pacific Air Forces commander General Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy.

China again urged restraint from all parties. Defence Ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang told a monthly briefing that China would never allow war or chaos on the Korean peninsula, its doorstep, and military means were not an option.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the situation on the peninsula was serious.

“I also want to stress that the current tense situation on the peninsula isn’t a screenplay or a video game,” she said.

“It’s real, and is an immense and serious issue that directly involves the safety of people from both the north and south of the peninsula, as well as peace and stability of the entire region.”

In a phone call on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov underscored the need to refrain from military actions that could have unpredictable consequences.