The United States (US), South Korea (Korea) and Japan this week agreed to change the flight planes of B-52 bomber aircraft. At least two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers will not fly over the Korean Peninsula.
The decision came after North Korea's refusal of US military exercises in the region. Pyongyang also said that the upcoming summit (summit) between Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump could be at risk.
North Korea threatened to cancel the planned summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un scheduled for June 12 in Singapore. North Korea says the United States should carefully consider the fate of the upcoming meeting, given what it calls a provocative military incursion with South Korea as reported by the North Korean news agency.
Officials said it was unclear whether the decision to divert the plane's routes in response to North Korea's statement. But they note the move is part of efforts to try to ease the prospects of North Korea capable of claiming US involvement in provocative behavior.
Officials insisting the bomber mission, which has been going on for several years, is not considered a military exercise.
Officially, the Pentagon declined to comment.
"We are continuing to coordinate with our allies but for operational security reasons we can not comment on future or ongoing operations as well as our decision making process," Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan was quoted as saying by CNN on Saturday (19 / 5/2018).
"The ongoing presence of bombers is part of our routine, advanced attacking ability, which supports our regional and regional security in the Indo-Pacific region," he added.
Officials said the B-52 took off from Guam and landed there, making flights that started 24-48 hours earlier. They fly to the south / southeast of the Korean Peninsula but remain outside the airspace of South Korea.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the change plan.
On Thursday, the Pentagon told CNN that the decision not to include the B-52 bomber in the ongoing Max Thunder military exercise and was made long before the North's May 16 statement on diplomatic and summit meetings.
"The non-participation B-52 is not tied to events or communications this week.The Republic of Korea and the United States will continue to cooperate fully to regulate conditions for successful diplomatic efforts while maintaining a military foundation," a statement from the Pentagon said.
US bombers have been seen regularly on the Korean Peninsula in recent months amid escalating tensions with Pyongyang's regular training flight with Japanese and South Korean fighter jets that often provoke North Korean regime anger.
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