North Korea's Threat of Attack on Guam; Deployment of US Bombers to Korea

Hours after the warning from the President of the United States, who faced North Korea with 'fire and fury', Pyongyang announced it was preparing a potential attack plan around Guam. Simultaneously, Seoul reported the deployment of US strategic bombers to Korea. The official North Korean news agency stated on August 9 that its 'strategic forces' are 'carefully planning an operational map to use Hwasong-12 and fire in areas surrounding Guam.' The Hwasong-12 is a long-range, transportable missile that was successfully tested in mid-May. Long-range missiles fall between medium-range and intercontinental missiles, typically having a range of 3,500 to 5,500 kilometers. Guam is an island in the Pacific Ocean, located between the Japanese archipelago and Papua, administered by the US government. Several important US military bases, including Anderson Air Force Base, which houses the country's strategic bombers, are located on this island. The North Korean news agency stated that the attack plan would be handed over to Kim Jong-un, the leader of the country, once it is ready. The agency also stated in a separate announcement that Pyongyang is prepared to engage in a 'full-scale war' in response to a potential US attack. The statements were released shortly after Donald Trump warned North Korea not to threaten the US, or it would face 'fire and fury' the world has never seen before. This came after Pyongyang announced it was 'ready to take ruthless strategic and practical actions' in response to new UN sanctions. Apparently, North Korea's threat regarding the preparation of a plan for a potential attack on Guam is related to US bases. The US sends its B-1B bombers from these bases for training and exercises in the Korean Peninsula. On Wednesday morning, a South Korean defense official told the country's state news agency that earlier this week, two B-1B bombers from the US military conducted exercises over its airspace. According to this defense official, the exercise was part of regular training between South Korea and the US, and South Korean fighter jets also participated. The B-1 bomber is a supersonic aircraft and, alongside the B-2 and B-52, is one of the three strategic aircraft in the US Air Force. While North Korea claims these exercises are aimed at preparing for an 'attack' on the country and the overthrow of its regime, the US, South Korea, and Japan state that the purpose of these exercises is solely to enhance defensive capabilities against potential threats from North Korea. Previously, Pyongyang had demanded the cessation of these military exercises in exchange for halting its own military and nuclear tests, a request the US government described as 'lacking seriousness' and rejected. North Korea has also recently rejected South Korea's proposal for some military negotiations, calling it 'lacking seriousness.' Pyongyang stated that it would not be willing to negotiate as long as there is a threat from the US. Yesterday, the Washington Post and a Japanese Ministry of Defense publication reported that North Korea has managed to produce a nuclear warhead for installation on a ballistic missile. No official has yet confirmed the Washington Post report. Until early August, after North Korea's recent intercontinental missile test, US officials believed that Pyongyang had not yet succeeded in producing a nuclear warhead of the size that could be mounted on ballistic missiles.