North Korea's further "sudden provocations" is a possibility.
That's according to South Korea's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today.
General Lee Sun-jin checked upon joint South Korea, U.S. readiness for air defense with
U.S. Forces Korea commander General Curtis Scaparrotti... in a show of determination
to deter further provocations by North Korea.
This comes a day after the United States sent a B-52 bomber... on a low flyover across South
Korea...
flanked by other U.S. and South Korean fighter jets.
It was a strong show of force against Pyongyang... and was also a clear indication of Washington's
commitment to the defense of its allies.
Our national defense correspondent Kim Hyun-bin is in the studio with me.
Hyun-bin,... fill us in on the latest joint inspection by the two commanders...
at this critical time.
Good evening, Connyoung.
South Korea's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lee Sun-Jin... and U.S. Forces Korea
Commander General Curtis Scaparotti visited Korean and U.S. Air Force bases earlier today
to inspect the preparedness of their militaries... to deal with any possible North Korean provocations.
The two commanders were briefed on the current situation and they urged that both militaries
needs to maintain their highest level of readiness... keeping in mind that there could be additional
provocations by the North at any time.
The two generals also inspected the Korea Air and Space Operations Center, which is
in charge of detecting and countering enemy aircraft and ballistic missiles.
It also acts as the Korea-U.S. Joint Air Force Command Cell during wartime.
Hyun-bin,...
Washington flew a B-52 bomber close to North Korea over the weekend.
Quite a symbolic move, I should say.
The flight made a very strong statement....
It showed a united stance against Pyongyang's act and that essentially, Seoul and Washington
mean business and they will not tolerate any more of these provocations from the North....
It also highlighted Washington's commitment to defending its allies.
"The deployment of the B-52 strategic bomber shows off the iron clad alliance between the
two countries to North Korea and the world, and could also have the side effect of curbing
future provocations by Pyongyang."
The powerful B-52,... which is equipped with nuclear missiles and bunker busting bombs...
that are capable of targeting underground facilities,... is also capable of hitting
targets that are up to three-thousand kilometers away.
Now... the two allies are also planning further military counteractions down the road.
Experts say additional deployments could include the nuclear-powered USS Ronald Reagan aircraft
carrier, a nuclear submarine, B-2 stealth bombers and F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets.
It was a busy week in the defense arena after the North's nuclear test last week - or its
self-claimed hydrogen bomb test.
Tensions on the peninsula have shot up drastically...
The new year has kicked off with military tensions at a high point.
That's right Conn-young.
North Korea is the only country that has tested a nuclear bomb in this century... and not
just once but four times in the last decade.
The communist regime says that it successfully tested a hydrogen bomb for the first time
but experts here say...
it's hard to believe North Korea has the technology to develop a full-scale H-bomb at this point
in time.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday highlighted that his country needs to enhance
its nuclear deterrence as self-defense to counter nuclear threats from the U.S.
"North Korea needs to emphasize its nuclear and WMD power to the world to maintain its
power structure and believes that it's the only way Pyongyang can survive."
South Korea has condemned this latest test and vowed that Pyongyang will pay a price
for its nuclear provocations.
The defense chiefs of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan are calling the event a direct violation
of international law... as well as a threat to peace and stability...
not only on the Korean Peninsula but the entire Asia Pacific region.
The three countries have also pledged to enhance cooperation to better counter North Korea's
nuclear and missile threats.
Thank you, Hyun-bin for that wrap-up.