China Calls on Parties to Korean Conflict to Deescalate Tensions

SEOUL – US forces in South Korea were put on their highest level of alert on Monday in case of any provocation from North Korea, following North Korea’s nuclear test last week.

North Korea, meanwhile, published a photo Monday of leader Kim Jong-Un posing formally with hundreds of scientists, workers and officials who participated in the latest test.

North Korea regularly accuses the USA of using these exercises to prepare an attack on Pyongyang, a claim fiercely denied by Seoul and Washington.

A US Air Force general said America had an “ironclad” commitment to defending South Korea.

The long-range bomber, which can drop conventional bombs and also launch cruise missiles for a precision strike, flew back to its base in Guam after the fly-over, but it caused the DPRK’s condemnation of pushing the situation into ” the brink of war”. “We know they will continue doing it, so the real question is what will we do about it”.

“There has been an increase in troops along the border following North Korea’s fourth nuclear test”, Mr Kim said.

Kishida also welcomed the USA military’s dispatch Sunday of a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber on a flight over South Korea in an apparent show of force to North Korea.

Some Korean pop songs from all-girl bands, such as Girlfriend’s “Me Gustas Tu” and Apink’s “Let Us Just Love”, were included in the playlist for the propaganda broadcasts.

The B-52 was joined by South Korean F-15 and U.S. F-16 fighters and returned to its base in Guam after the flight, the USA military said.

North Korea’s fourth nuclear test on Wednesday angered both the United States and China, which was not given prior notice, although the USA government and weapons experts doubt the North’s claim that the device it set off was a hydrogen bomb.

The bomber flew low past the Osan air base, flanked by an entourage of two South Korean F-15Ks and two U.S. F-16s before returning to its home base, the two sides’ militaries said.

The US Department of Defense has announced that a US B-52 bomber was flown over Osan province in South Korea. According to South Korea media reports, the Chinese regime has imposed sanctions, and its diplomatic language toward North Korea has taken a sharper tone.

Timonin said the nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully.

Maintaining peace and stability in North-east Asia would “serve the common interests of all relevant parties”, said China’s Foreign Ministry, which has maintained that dialogue is key to denuclearising North Korea.

Earlier on Sunday, KCNA quoted Kim as saying no one had the right to criticize the North’s nuclear tests.

Also, in Dandong, the largest Chinese border city, which faces Sinuiju, North Korea, across the Yalu River, the red tape needed to go through customs has been strengthened.

“The move is aimed at securing the safety of South Koreans as the North is expected to react to Seoul’s resumption of anti-North Korean loudspeaker broadcasts”, said Unification Ministry Spokesman Jeong Joon-hee.