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Monday 31 July 2017
US bombers fly over South Korea after North’s 2nd ICBM test
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) —
The United States flew two
supersonic bombers over
the Korean Peninsula on
Sunday in a show of force
against North Korea follow-
ing the country’s latest in-
tercontinental ballistic mis-
sile test. The U.S. also said
it conducted a successful
test of a missile defense sys-
tem located in Alaska.
The B-1 bombers were es-
corted by South Korean
fighter jets as they per-
formed a low-pass over an
air base near the South Ko-
rean capital of Seoul be-
fore returning to Andersen
Air Force Base in Guam,
the U.S. Pacific Air Forces
said in a statement.
It said the mission was
a response to North Ko-
rea’s two ICBM tests this
month. Analysts say flight
data from the North’s sec-
ond test, conducted Fri-
day night, showed that a
broader part of the main-
land United States, includ-
ing Los Angeles and Chi- In this photo provided by South Korea Defense Ministry, a U.S.
cago, is now in range of Air Force B-1B bomber, top, flies with South Korean fighter jets
F-15K over Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Sunday,
Pyongyang’s weapons. July 30, 2017. The United States flew two supersonic bombers
Vice President Mike Pence over the Korean Peninsula on Sunday in a show of force against
said Sunday during a visit North Korea following the country’s latest intercontinental bal- the worst-case scenario,” response to the North’s
to Estonia that the U.S. and listic missile test.
its allies plan to increase
280 2333
Orange Plaza
Italiëstraat 50
pressure on North Korea to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a
end its nuclear program. California Democrat, told
“The continued provoca- CBS’ “Face the Nation”
tions by the rogue regime that North Korea’s latest
in North Korea are unac- test presents a clear and
ceptable and the United present danger to the Unit-
States of America is going ed States.
to continue to marshal the “I’ve spent time on the in-
support of nations across telligence and at the brief-
the region and across the ings, and done as much
world to further isolate reading as I possibly could,”
North Korea economi- said Feinstein, a member
cally and diplomatically,” of the Senate Intelligence
Pence said. Committee.
“But the era of strategic pa- “And I’m convinced that
tience is over. The president North Korea has never
of the United States is lead- moved at the speed that
ing a coalition of nations to this leader has to develop
bring pressure to bear until an ICBM.”
that time that North Korea Feinstein said the situation
will permanently abandon shows the danger of isolat-
its nuclear and ballistic mis- ing a country.
sile program.” “I think the only solution is a
Gen. Terrence J. diplomatic one,” she said.
O’Shaughnessy, Pacific Air “I’m very disappointed
Forces commander, called in China’s response, that
North Korea “the most ur- it has not been firmer or
gent threat to regional sta- more helpful.”
bility.” The United States often
“Diplomacy remains the sends powerful warplanes
lead. However, we have in times of heightened ten-
a responsibility to our allies sions with North Korea. B-1
and our nation to show- bombers have been sent
case our unwavering com- to South Korea for flyovers
mitment while planning for several times this year in
O’Shaughnessy said. “If banned missile tests, and
(South Korea Defense Ministry via AP) called upon, we are ready also following the death
to respond with rapid, le- of a U.S. college student
thal, and overwhelming last month after he was re-
force at a time and place leased by North Korea in a
of our choosing.” coma.q
Pence begins 3-nation Europe
tour in NATO member Estonia
By JARI TANNER, Associ- In a press pool interview,
ated Press Pence said he was sent to
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — U.S. Europe by President Don-
Vice President Mike Pence ald Trump “with a very sim-
arrived Sunday in Estonia ple message.”
for meetings with the presi- “That is that ‘America First’
dents of three Baltic nations doesn’t mean ‘America
in northeastern Europe, the Alone,’” Pence told Fox
first stop of a four-day Euro- News. “Our message to the
pean tour. Baltic states — my message
The vice president and his when we visit Georgia and
wife, Karen Pence, arrived Montenegro— will be the
in the Estonian capital, Tal- same: to our allies here in
linn, to kick off the Europe- Eastern Europe, we are
an tour that also includes with you.”
Later Sunday, he held talks
stops in Georgia and Mon-
tenegro. with Estonian Prime Minister
Pence is scheduled to Juri Ratas.Issues included
meet with the leaders of Estonia’s current holding of
the Baltics - Estonia, Latvia the European Union presi-
and Lithuania - on Monday. dency, trade, cyberse-
He is expected to pledge curity and the continuing
Washington’s commitment tensions in the Baltic Sea
to NATO’s mutual defense, region, where Russia and
an important issue for the NATO have increased their
former Soviet republics that military presence in recent
border Russia. years.