President Trump is growing weary of the belligerent actions of North Korea, which is moving forward with a secret nuclear weapons program hidden deep inside a mountain range and continues to test intercontinental missiles.
But Trump also is unhappy with the regional leader, China, which he says could make the problem disappear if it tried.
Tension is rising in the region following North Korea’s recent missile tests, the latest of which occurred Friday.
The U.S. flew two supersonic B-1 bombers over the Korean peninsula on Saturday. The bombers made a low pass over Osan Air Base near Seoul, then returned to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
“Throughout the approximately 10-hour mission, the aircrews practiced intercept and formation training, enabling them to improve their combined capabilities and tactical skills,” the Air Force said.
Meanwhile, Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, U.S. Pacific Air Forces commander, said the U.S. and its allies are prepared to use “rapid, lethal and overwhelming force” against North Korea if necessary.
“North Korea remains the most urgent threat to regional stability,” the general said. “Diplomacy remains the lead; however, we have a responsibility to our allies and our nation to showcase our unwavering commitment while planning for the worst-case scenario. If called upon, we are ready to respond with rapid, lethal, and overwhelming force at a time and place of our choosing.”
The Sun newspaper in Britain said on Sunday that “senior military sources in Washington have reportedly claimed Pentagon officials have laid out plans to obliterate a nuclear weapons facility operating deep within a mountain range inside the rogue state.”
China, meanwhile, held a huge military parade on Saturday, featuring stealth jets, nuclear missiles, attack helicopters and tens of thousands of elite troops marching in formation. President Xi Jinping — dressed in military fatigues — inspected the troops.
Contrary to Trump’s claims, China is not at all happy with North Korea’s missile tests, officially telling Washington: “The Chinese side is deeply concerned about the situation.”
