{"id":1870,"date":"2017-10-11T04:09:41","date_gmt":"2017-10-11T04:09:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/people.utm.my\/wanfahminfaiz\/?p=1870"},"modified":"2017-10-11T04:14:27","modified_gmt":"2017-10-11T04:14:27","slug":"bundle-news-u-s-flies-bombers-over-korea-as-trump-discusses-options","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/wanfahminfaiz\/bundle-news-u-s-flies-bombers-over-korea-as-trump-discusses-options\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. flies bombers over Korea as Trump discusses options"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SEOUL\/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. military flew two strategic bombers over the Korean peninsula in a show of force late on Tuesday, as President Donald Trump met with top defense officials to discuss how to respond to any threat from North Korea.<\/p>\n

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A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, takes-off to fly a bilateral mission with Japanese and South Korea Air Force jets in the vicinity of the Sea of Japan, from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, October 10, 2017. Staff Sgt. Joshua Smoot\/U.S. Air Force\/Handout via REUTERS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Tensions have soared between the United States and North Korea following a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang and a string of increasingly bellicose exchanges between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.<\/p>\n

In recent weeks, North Korea has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test, as it fast advances toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland.<\/p>\n

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The two U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers were accompanied by two F-15K fighters from the South Korean military after leaving their base in Guam, South Korea\u2019s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

After entering South Korean airspace, the two bombers carried out air-to-ground missile drills in waters off the east coast of South Korea, then flew over the South to waters between it and China to repeat the drill, the release said.<\/p>\n

The U.S. military said in a separate statement that Japanese fighters also joined the drill, making it the first night-time combined exercise for the U.S. bombers with fighters from Japan and South Korea.<\/p>\n

The U.S. bombers had taken off from the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. In August, Pyongyang threatened to shoot intermediate range missiles towards the vicinity of Guam, a target frequently subjected to sabre-rattling from the North.<\/p>\n

TRUMP, DEFENSE OFFICIALS DISCUSS OPTIONS<\/h3>\n

South Korean and U.S. government officials have been raising their guard against more North Korean provocations with the approach of the 72nd anniversary of the founding of North Korea\u2019s ruling party, which fell on Tuesday<\/p>\n

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, prepare for take-off to fly a bilateral mission with Japanese and South Korea Air Force jets in the vicinity of the Sea of Japan, from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, October 10, 2017. Staff Sgt. Joshua Smoot\/U.S. Air Force\/Handout via REUTERS<\/span><\/div>\n

Trump on Tuesday hosted a discussion on options to respond to any North Korean aggression or if necessary to prevent Pyongyang from threatening the United States and its allies with nuclear weapons, the White House said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Trump was briefed by Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford at a meeting of members of his national security team, the statement said.<\/p>\n

U.S. and South Korean wartime operational plans, including a plan to wipe out the North Korean leadership, were stolen by North Korean hackers last year, a South Korean ruling party lawmaker said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, taxi before take off to fly bilateral missions with Japanese and South Korea Air Force jets in the vicinity of the Sea of Japan, from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, October 10, 2017. Staff Sgt. Joshua Smoot\/U.S. Air Force\/Handout via REUTERS<\/span><\/div>\n

Some 235 gigabytes of military documents were taken from South Korea\u2019s Defense Integrated Data Center in September last year, Democratic Party representative Rhee Cheol-hee said in radio appearances on Wednesday, citing information from unnamed South Korean defense officials.<\/p>\n

In May, an investigative team inside the defense ministry announced the hack had been carried out by North Korea, but did not disclose what kind of information had been taken.<\/p>\n

China, North Korea\u2019s main ally and trading partner, has consistently urged Washington and Pyongyang to lower their rhetoric and return to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n

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