Thinkerman Posted March 5, 2003 Is world War Three getting closer? US boosts forces near N Korea Two dozen B-1 and B-52 bombers have been put on alert The United States is ordering extra military forces - thought to be long-range bombers - to boost defences near North Korea. The move comes amid heightened tensions with Pyongyang, following Monday's interception of a US surveillance plane by four North Korean fighter jets in international airspace. Washington military officials also said that the US is considering sending it own fighter jets to escort future surveillance flights. "As part of our efforts to meet our global requirements, we are deploying additional forces to the western Pacific as US forces are preparing for possible military action elsewhere," Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Commander Jeff Davis said. He did not specify what forces were involved, but BBC Pentagon correspondent Nick Childs says they are understood to be long-range bombers. Last month the United States put two dozen B-1 and B-52 bombers on alert for possible deployment to the US-held Pacific island of Guam. The force would also be accompanied by about 2,000 personnel, the French news agency AFP reported. Deterrent Pentagon officials insist the decision was made on Friday and is not a response to Monday's air incident over the Sea of Japan. Washington on Tuesday confirmed it would lodge a formal protest over the encounter, which follows weeks of escalating tensions with North Korea, notably over the isolated ultra-communist state's nuclear programme. "This kind of reckless behaviour by North Korea will only lead to further international isolation of North Korea," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. North Korea has condemned the military exercises US officials said that at one point one of the four North Korean MiG fighters involved edged within 15 metres (50 feet) of the US plane. The escalating tensions come as the US and South Korea begin large-scale military exercises, which the North has labelled a prelude to invasion. The US says its joint military exercises with the South are a planned annual event and not connected to friction with the North. Codenamed Foal Eagle, they involve 5,000 American soldiers. Fighter escorts The Pentagon said the interception happened on Sunday as its RC-135 - a model based on the Boeing 707 airliner - was on a routine intelligence mission about 150 miles (240 kilometres) off North Korea's coast. The US said initially that one of the North Korean jets involved had locked its radar weapons system onto the US plane, the final step before firing a missile. However, it later said that the aircraft had merely been "acquired" by the MiG's radar. The US plane broke off its mission and returned to its base in Kadena, Japan. US military officials said on Tuesday that one possible response to the incident would be to have fighters escort future flights. However they say that doing so runs the risk of undercutting the US assertion that the surveillance flights are not military threats. Stand-off CRISIS CHRONOLOGY 16 Oct: US says N Korea admits to a secret nuclear programme 14 Nov: US halts oil shipments to N Korea 22 Dec: N Korea removes monitoring devices at Yongbyon nuclear plant 31 Dec: UN nuclear inspectors forced to leave 10 Jan: N Korea pulls out of anti-nuclear treaty 12 Feb: IAEA refers issue to UN Security Council 27 Feb: US says Yongbyon reactor restarted Timeline of tensions North Korea has been embroiled in a tense stand-off with the US since news broke in October of a secret North Korean nuclear programme. The US stopped fuel aid to North Korea, which reacted by kicking weapons inspectors out of the country and restarting its Yongbyon nuclear reactor. It also pulled out the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which seeks to control the spread of nuclear arms. North Korea wants direct talks with Washington to resolve the issue, but the US has said it will not give in to what it sees as North Korean blackmail. In recent weeks, Pyongyang has ratcheted even further its normally belligerent rhetoric. On Sunday, Pyongyang accused the US of planning a secret strike on the Yongbyon reactor and warned such an operation could trigger "horrifying nuclear disasters". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SomaliaOnline-President Posted March 5, 2003 I dont think the commies are stupid enuff to start a nuclear war with the US. And definetly not with ONLY 4 warheads. I think the current American military in the region is just too much for 'em to try anything funny. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thinkerman Posted March 5, 2003 I dont think its so much that about the number of Nukes, although clearly this play's a part. It is is america willing to take a risk of going to conflict with a nuclear armed regime, that is near some of its close allies namely Japan. I think the answer is not so clear. But it is very interesting, i think they outcome of this could possibly serve as a model for future american aggression Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted March 5, 2003 i heard that the N Korean pilots locked on to the radar of the reconesance of the amaericans. This shows that they aint scared of them. i once saw this prograame on tv, about a month ago, iwas about a guy,white, goin to n korea for a month. Very interesting! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SomaliaOnline-President Posted March 5, 2003 I dont think its so much that about the number of Nukes, although clearly this play's a part. It is is america willing to take a risk of going to conflict with a nuclear armed regime, that is near some of its close allies namely Japan. I think the answer is not so clear. Nah Nukes are very important in any conflict. They increase both your political and battle laverages over the enemy. I think Japan and S.Korea both have some sort of working missile defense system in place right now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
