'GANGSTERS!' North Korea accuses ‘frenzied’ US of BLACKMAIL as bombers fly over peninsula
NORTH Korea has accused the “frenzied” US of “blackmail” as American bombers flew near the Korean Peninsula, Kim Jong-un’s media mouthpiece has claimed.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) lashed out at America after two B-1B bombers flew near the border separating the divided nations on Thursday.
KCNA said: "The frenzied US scheme of threats and blackmail, which aims to crush our republic with nuclear weapons continues in November as it did in October.”
The news agency then claimed that the bombers, that were accompanied by South Korean and Japanese fighters at points during their journey, were practising dropping nuclear bombs on “key” North Korean targets.
Branding US behaviour "gangster-like" the mouth-piece for the hermit state added: "The US may make frantic last-minute efforts to block our powerful advances by shoving nuclear strategic assets at us, but our army and people are not ones to be startled.”
The US Pacific Air Forces confirmed that the flight took place yesterday.
It said: "The two B-1B Lancers took off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and transited south of Korea and west of Japan to integrate with Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defence Force) fighters.
"The Lancers then transited overland to Korea to integrate with Republic of Korea fighters in the Yellow Sea.
“Upon completion of bilateral integration, the aircraft returned to their respective home stations."
Donald Trump predicted North Korea threat two DECADES ago
The military body denied that escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula were responsible for the deployment of the bombers by declaring that the mission was planned in advance.
The recently flyovers come after North Korean commanders along the border with the South stated they “will not hesitate” to unleash a devastating barrage in retaliation to any attack by the United States.
The grave warning comes from a high-profile defector who says officers deployed on the demarcation line are expected “to press the button without any further instructions” at the first hint of an American strike.
Former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho said thousands of short-range rockets and artillery pieces – many of which are trained on the South Korean capital Seoul – are ready to fire “at any moment”.
Donald Trump will begin his tour of Asia on Sunday where he will visit Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
On November 7 Trump will meet the South Korean President Moon Jae-in as well as American and South Korean servicemen where the consistent threats of nuclear annihilation from Pyongyang will surely be discussed.
The White House said: “The President will speak at the National Assembly, where he will celebrate the enduring alliance and friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea, and call on the international community to join together in maximising pressure on North Korea.”