Allies show off bomber after ‘failed’ N.Korean test

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - An American B-1B bomber soared above the Korean Peninsula Wednesday within hours of an apparent failed missile test by North Korea.

The show of strength by the United States and South Korea came amid their allied military drills, before the powerful B-1B returned to its base in Guam.

“Through this exercise, the South Korean and U.S. Air Forces demonstrated their strong deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats,” read a statement from the South’s Air Force carried by Yonhap News Agency.

Earlier in the day, Seoul’s defense ministry confirmed the North fired a missile in the morning but it was “presumed to have failed”.

The U.S. Pacific Command also detected the attempt, suggesting the projectile exploded just after being launched.

North Korea carried out a new rocket engine test last weekend, prompting speculation about a looming long-range missile launch.

Pyongyang has tested several other ballistic missiles already this year, despite being barred from doing so by United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The North insists it will continue developing its nuclear arsenal in response to what it perceives as a threat from the U.S., which has nearly 30,000 troops stationed in South Korea.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently said Washington could get tougher on North Korea after two decades of failure to curb Pyongyang’s weapon ambitions.