US B-52 bomber flies over S. Korea

Lieutenant-General Terrence O’Shaughnessy, the deputy commander of the joint United States-South Korean military command, issued a statement after the flight saying the US “remains steadfast” in the defense of South Korea.

The B-52 is based in Guam and is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Two days after the North conducted what it claimed was a hydrogen bomb test on Wednesday, the South Korean military restarted the long-time psychological warfare tactic, airing messages critical of the North Korean dictatorship and leader Kim Jong-un in what can be the most threatening unmilitary assault from Seoul.

South Korean military officials say the North is continuing to actively pursue the development of SLBMs, which would take its nuclear threat to a new level.

The North Korean leader added that the alleged test was the country’s legitimate right as a sovereign state and a fair move that “nobody can criticize”.

“The flight [Saturday] demonstrates the strength and capabilities of the Alliance”, said Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, U.S. Forces Korea commander.

On Friday, the North’s state broadcaster also released video footage of a submarine-launched ballistic missile test, though South Korean media have suggested the footage was an edited compilation of a previous test. Seoul can’t stand down easily, some analysts say, and it’s highly unlikely that the North will express regret for its nuclear test, which is a source of intense national pride.

The tone of the comments, which sought to glorify Mr Kim and justify the test, was typical of state media propaganda.

South Korea continued to conduct high-decibel propaganda broadcasts across the heavily militarised border into the North on Sunday. The first was loudspeaker broadcasts condemning the North, which were resumed along the inter-Korean border about four months after they’d been stopped.

South Korea hosts 28,000 U.S. troops as the two Koreas technically remain at war because the Korean War of 1950-53 ended in an armistice instead of a peace treaty.

The broadcasts, which include “K-pop” music and statements critical of the Kim regime, began on Friday and are considered an insult by Pyongyang.

Hours after global sensors detected the blast, the U.N. Security Council met in an emergency session to craft new sanctions against North Korea for its latest violation of U.N. policy.