U.S., N. Korea take brinkmanship up a level

By Alex Jensen
SEOUL (AA) - United States bombers flew closer to North Korea Saturday than ever before during this century, an American defense spokeswoman revealed.
The news reached South Korea early Sunday morning after the U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers and F-15C fighter jets traveled past the reclusive state's eastern coast amid escalating threats from both sides.
"This is the farthest north of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) any U.S. fighter or bomber aircraft have flown off North Korea's coast in the 21st century, underscoring the seriousness with which we take (North Korea's) reckless behavior," Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said in a statement.
South Korea's presidential office announced Sunday that Seoul was closely involved in the deployment of the assets from U.S. bases in Guam and Okinawa, and that these were the "most effective countermeasures against the advancement of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs," according to Yonhap News Agency.
Meanwhile, North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said his country is ready to take "merciless preventive action" if the U.S. looks set to attack, while addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York Saturday.
Pyongyang and Washington have escalated their war of words since U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Tuesday to "totally destroy" the North.

North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency also reported Sunday on a massive anti-U.S. rally involving more than 100,000 people in Pyongyang the previous day.