The United States deployed a B-52 bomber on a low-level flight over its ally South Korea yesterday, in a show of force following North Korea’s nuclear test last week.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un maintained that Wednesday’s test was of a hydrogen bomb and said it was a self-defensive step against a US threat of nuclear war.

North Korea’s fourth nuclear test angered both China, its main ally, and the United States, although the US government and weapons experts doubt the North’s claim that the device was a hydrogen bomb.

The B-52, based in Guam and capable of carrying nuclear weapons, was flanked by two fighter planes, a US F-16 and a South Korean F-15, in a low flight over Osan Air Base, before returning to Guam, the US military said in a statement.

Osan is south of Seoul and roughly 100 km (62 miles) from the North Korean border. The flight was “in response to recent provocative action by North Korea”, the US military said.

The United States is also considering sending a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to waters off the Korean peninsula next month to join a naval exercise with Seoul.

Meanwhile, US presidential hopeful Donald Trump on Saturday praised North Korea’s despotic leader Kim Jong-un, saying the way he executes his political opponenets shows “he’s the boss”.
Speaking at a Republican rally in Iowa, Trump had few nice words for the unpredictable North Korean leader.

“You’ve got to give him credit,” Trump said. “How many young guys — he was like 26 or 25 when his father died — take over these tough generals, and all of a sudden — you know, it’s pretty amazing when you think of it. How does he do that?

“Even though it is a culture, and it’s a cultural thing, he goes in, he takes over, he’s the boss. It’s incredible.

“He wiped out the uncle, he wiped out this one, that one. This guy doesn’t play games and we can’t play games with him. Because he really does have missiles and he really does have nukes.”

Trump has a track record of praising the leadership qualities of controversial world powers – from Vladimir Putin to the Chinese government.info-the daily star