The US, South Korea and Japan agreed this week to shift a planned flight of at least two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers so they would not fly over the Korean Peninsula, according to two US defense officials.
Officials said Friday it was not clear to them whether the decision to shift the route of the aircraft was in response to Kim’s statement but noted the move was part of an effort to try to ease the prospect of North Korea being able to claim the US was engaging in provocative behavior.
The officials insist the bomber missions, which have been going on for several years, are not considered military exercises.
Officially, the Pentagon refused to comment.
“We continue to coordinate with our allies but for operational security reasons we cannot comment on future or ongoing operations. This would also include our decision-making process,” said Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Logan.
But Logan also noted “continuous Bomber Presence missions are part of a routine, forward deployed, deterrence capability supporting regional security and our allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
