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apparently intended to show the ability to conduct long-range

By Park Hyun, Washington correspondent and Kim Kyu-won, staff reporter

Following a flight over the Korean peninsula by B-2 strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear bombs, there are imminent plans for yet another display of sophisticated weaponry, the Wall Street Journal reported on Mar. 30 (EST). As North Korean threats and American shows of force continue to escalate, it appears that the situation on the Korean peninsula will continue to deteriorate for the time being.

The US Department of Defense refused to disclose what other advanced weaponry it would be dispatching to the Korean peninsula. “The United States will continue to demonstrate unique advanced capabilities as these exercises continue,” an unnamed government official told the Wall Street Journal.

“Next week, another high-tech US weapon may be dispatched here,” said Wi Yong-seop, a spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Defense. “There have been stealth bombers and nuclear submarines so far, but not any nuclear aircraft carriers. There is no way to know if a nuclear carrier will actually be sent.”

“It is the position of South Korean and US forces not to back down in the face of North Korean military threats, so any kind of weapon could be sent,” Wi added.

These aggressive moves by the US are intended to warn Pyongyang not to take any rash steps while also reassuring its allies, the Wall Street Journal article suggested. There were some concerns among US officials that sending stealth bombers to the Korean peninsula for a training mission could lead to a miscalculation by North Korea. However, the prevailing view is that the US-ROK military exercises will ultimately have the effect of stabilizing the situation, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Activity is also increasing among US and South Korean diplomats. On Apr. 2, Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will visit the US, while his American counterpart, Secretary of State John Kerry, will travel to South Korea on Apr. 11.

It is very unusual for the chief diplomats of two countries to travel back and forth and conduct consecutive meetings in such a short period of time. One of the reasons this is happening now is the recent inauguration of the South Korean president and the relative newness of the second Obama administration in the US.

precision strikes against North Korea. (Yonhap News)

Yun will remain in the US until Apr. 4 and will join John Kerry for the first ministerial meeting. Next, John Kerry will come to South Korea immediately after attending the G8 Summit, which will be held in London from Apr. 10 to Apr. 11. Kerry‘s visit to South Korea will be part of a three-country circuit in Northeast Asia that will also include China and Japan.

“Yun is visiting the US to directly explain the new administration’s policy on North Korea to the US,” said a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in regard to the unusual back-to-back meetings between Yun and Kerry. “During his time in the US, he will meet Kerry while also swapping opinions with people both inside government and out, including diplomats, defense officials, and experts in various fields.”

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