In Response to North Korean latest missile test which was confirmed to be in the ICBM range, US Air Force B-1 bombers dropped dummy bombs near North Korean border.
The bombers were escorted by South Korea fighter jets as the dummy bombs were being dropped on The Korean Demilitarised Zone in a joint operation by the allies to signal their total displeasure and disapproval of Pyongyang latest missile test that had a fly time of almost 40 minutes and covered a distance a little shy of 900 kilometer, The longest test ever recorded by the rogue regime.
The Korean Demilitarized Zone is a small thin strip of land cutting across the Korean Peninsula which was established by the provisions of the Korean Armistice Agreement to serve as a buffer zone between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). The zone is a border barrier that divides the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, which was created by agreement between North Korea, China and the UN in 1953.
The United State Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis while addressing issues on North Korea threat to the US on Thursday said that the hardline options could be considered in response to Pyongyang's provocations and unrestrained weapon programs and test. Going further, he said "The military remains ready in accordance with our alliance with Japan and Korea,’’
A US official on Thursday while responding to the July 4 test of the ICBM class missile sais “We stand ready to provide options if they are necessary,’ ’ Mattis said, pointing out that diplomacy with regards to North Korea had not failed. Mattis quoted Gen. Vincent Brooks, the Commander of U.S. Forces in Korea, as saying America and South Korea have exercised extreme self-restraint in avoiding a military faceoff with the rogue regime.
He noted the shelling of South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, the sinking of a South Korean ship earlier that year and other provocations at sea, on land and in cyberspace.
“Our self-restraint holds, and diplomatic efforts remain underway as we speak,’’ Though noting that Military faceoff is now a strong option he still agree that Economic and diplomatic channel is still the best channel for resolving the issue.
The latest test by the US is a strong indicator that military options have been moved up the rack of the few option available to US in checking Pyongyang as effort to coerce China which is the only ally North Korea have in the region to force them to stop their Nuclear and Missile program is not yielding and positive result.
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