We're learning that the United States reportedly conducted a mission over the East Sea last week - flying two of its B-52 strategic bombers.
While experts say the mission might have been a warning to North Korea,... there are also speculations that it could have been aimed at keeping China and Russia in line.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
Two American B-52 strategic bombers flew over the East Sea last week,... conducting a mission, which looked like a warning to North Korea,... following the regime's latest barrage of hostile rhetoric toward Washington.
According to aviation tracker, Aircraft Spots,... two B-52H bombers,... which took off from a U.S. Air Base in Guam,... conducted a mission in the East Sea and possibly the South China Sea last Friday.
It added three aerial tankers supported the mission.
While the planes have not been spotted near the Korean Peninsula lately as the North has been engaged in denuclearization talks,... the latest flight comes as the regime test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile in early October.
The North has also blamed Washington for failing to come up with a renewed proposal,... following the breakdown of their recent working-level talks in Stockholm.
Pundits say the mission could also be a warning to China and Russia,... as their aircraft entered South Korea's air defense identification zone in July and warplanes from Moscow even intruded earlier this month.
The B-52 is a representative strategic asset of the U.S.,... along with intercontinental ballistic missiles and ballistic missile submarines.
It's a long-distance bomber capable of carrying 31-ton bombs on runs of almost six-and-a-half thousand kilometers.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.