US bombers fly off east coast of North Korea in show of force

US bombers accompanied by fighter jets flew off the east coast of North Korea today in a show of force designed to project American military power in the face of Pyongyang's weapons programmes, the Pentagon said.


It was the furthest north of the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) any US fighter or bomber aircraft has flown off North Korea's coast in this century, Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said.

"This mission is a demonstration of US resolve and a clear message that the president [Donald Trump] has many military options to defeat any threat," Ms White said.

"We are prepared to use the full range of military capabilities to defend the US homeland and our allies," she added.

Meanwhile, North Korea's foreign minister assailed Mr Trump at the opening of his address to the United Nations this evening, calling him a "mentally deranged person full of megalomania".
 [rte.ie]
 23/9/17
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