The United States military has revealed that its choice to fly B-52 strategic bombers, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, in the current round of ‘Key Resolve’ exercises was designed to send a strong message to the North Korean authorities.
A spokesman for the Department of Defense, George Little told reporters on the 18th that B-52 Stratofortresses have flown over the Korean Peninsula twice during training this month, something that “reflects the U.S.’s commitment to defend South Korea.”
The B-52, which has a range of 6400km, is able to conduct nuclear strikes, and can carry weapons weighing up to 27t.
According to Little, the B-52 flew over South Korea as part of Foal Eagle training exercises once on the 8th, and again on the19th. The bomber was dispatched from Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam.
“The B-52 Stratofortress can perform a variety of missions, including carrying precision-guided conventional or nuclear ordnance,” Little commented. “We’re drawing attention to the fact that we have extended deterrence capabilities that we believe are important to demonstrate in the wake of recent North Korean rhetoric.”
It is unusual for the U.S. government to publicly disclose specific information about B-52 sorties. In the same vein as Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s missile defense comments on the 15th, the move is designed to send a stark message to North Korea.
