Russian bomber flights over S. Korea and Japan.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
It was the fourth time since June 2012 that Russian bombers have run up against U.S. and allied air defense zones in the Pacific.
Defense officials told Inside the Ring that two Tu-95 Bear-H nuclear-capable bombers, Russia’s main nuclear cruise-missile delivery vehicle
, were detected Friday in the Pacific Command theater of operations coming from a base in Russia’s Far East.
, were detected Friday in the Pacific Command theater of operations coming from a base in Russia’s Far East.
A Japanese Embassy spokesman confirmed that two Tu-95s were intercepted by Japanese fighter jets on March 15. He did not elaborate.
Pacific Command spokeswoman Air Force Lt. Col. DeDe Halfhill declined to provide details of the flights or say whether any U.S. interceptor jets were sent aloft to follow the bombers. She instead referred questions to the Russian, Japanese and South Korean governments, even though she acknowledged that the incident took place within the command’s area of responsibility.
, even though she acknowledged that the incident took place within the command’s area of responsibility.
It could not be learned whether South Korean interceptor jets were scrambled to trail the bombers.
The latest Russian strategic bomber flights near Okinawa, where U.S. Marines are deployed, followed a Feb. 12 incursion around Guam, July 4 bomber flights near the California coast, and practice bomber sorties near Alaska in June.
The failure of the Pacific Command to discuss the incident appears to be part of a new Pentagon policy of refusing to answer reporters’ questions about troubling developments that might undermine the Obama administration’s conciliatory policies toward both Russia and China. For example, Friday’s flights took place just over a month after two other Tu-95s flew around the U.S. Pacific island of Guam — a major hub for the U.S. military buildup in the region.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/20/inside-the-ring-new-bear-bomber-flights/#ixzz2OBxvzo8u
N. Korea issues air raid alert, orders military to take immediate actions
SEOUL, March 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea issued air raid alerts and ordered its military to take immediate action, the country's state media outlet said Thursday.
Korean Central Television, a TV and radio broadcaster, said the alert was issued at 9:32 a.m. with military units and civilians told to take cover. It added that authorities called on the armed forces to take countermeasures to reduce damage.
The broadcaster did not say if an attack is under way or expected, indicating it may be a drill. The North has carried out similar air raid drills in the past, and ordered blackouts during nighttime exercises.
Related to the air raid alert, South Korea's military confirmed the North carried out a drill.
"The drill may be in response to the earlier deployment of a U.S. B-52 bomber over South Korea," an official said. He added that the alert is similar to civil defense air raid drills carried out by Seoul.
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