Posted on 12/25/2019 10:58:11 AM PST by yesthatjallen
SEOUL, Dec. 25 (Yonhap) -- The United States has flown four surveillance planes over the Korean Peninsula at the same time, according to an aviation tracker Wednesday, amid heightened concern that North Korea could test-fire a long-range missile as a "Christmas gift" to Washington.
According to Aircraft Spots, the four aircraft -- RC-135W Rivet Joint, E-8C, RQ-4 Global Hawk and RC-135S Cobra Ball -- were believed to have carried out missions over and around the Korean Peninsula between Tuesday and early Wednesday.
The RC-135W and the E-8C flew at 31,000 feet, while the Global Hawk was spotted at 53,000 feet. The RC-135S took off from Japan's Kadena Air Base and conducted missions over the East Sea, according to the tracker. A KC-135R refueling aircraft also flew over the East Sea.
It is unusual for four American surveillance planes to conduct missions around the Korean Peninsula at the same time. That appears to illustrate how much attention the U.S. is paying to an increasingly belligerent North Korea.
Pyongyang has ramped up pressure on Washington to come up with a new proposal in their stalled nuclear talks by the end of the year, strongly suggesting that otherwise it could restart testing of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Warning that the deadline is drawing near, the North said it is entirely up to the U.S. to decide what "Christmas gift" it selects to get, deepening concern the regime could conduct an intercontinental ballistic missile launch.
The North also carried out what appeared to be two rocket engine tests at its satellite site in a possible prelude to an ICBM launch, saying the results will have "an important impact" on changing its strategic position in the near future and will bolster its "reliable strategic nuclear deterrent."
South Korea and the U.S. have strengthened vigilance against the possibility of North Korea firing an ICBM or a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), or undertaking other types of provocations, military sources said.
Green Pine land-based radars were in operation on the ground, while an Aegis destroyer equipped with the SPY-1D radar system was deployed off shore and an E-737 Peace Eye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft was carrying out a mission in the air, the sources said.
"We're keeping a close watch over military moves in North Korea," a source said.
An ICBM launch or a nuclear test would represent a blow to U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of next year's presidential election as he has boasted of the North's suspension of such weapons tests as one of his key diplomatic achievements.
Trump has warned North Korean leader Kim Jong-un not to interfere with his reelection bid, saying the communist nation could lose "everything." The North said in response that the country has nothing more to lose.
On Tuesday, Trump said he can deal "successfully" with whatever Christmas gift the North sends.
"We'll find out what the surprise is, and we'll deal with it very successfully," Trump told reporters at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. "Everybody's got surprises for me, but let's see what happens. I handle them as they come along."
Asked what options he is considering, Trump continued, "We'll see what happens. Let's see. Maybe it's a nice present. Maybe it's a present where he sends me a beautiful vase as opposed to a missile test. I may get a vase. I may get a nice present from him. You don't know. You neve
Maybe the Christmas gift is that Kim will show his hand.
Just shoot. it. down.
I call BS on that line.
I have said it before, but we need to stick one about 6 feet tall in the front lawn of wherever he happens to be at that time that just pops out a US flag. We have the technology to stick an inert missile in his lawn within 3ft of where we want to.
“Look you idiot, it could have been a real one, but we were nice this time”. Just the fact that we knew right where he was at that particular time would shake him up. The US flag would just be more salt in the wound. lol
Let him launch his little rocket in to the Sea and dont say a word.
yep
Since nobody else even tried to confront Kim, it takes a lot of nerve to say this is some sort of defeat for Trump. Nobody else got Kim to cut back his launches and nuclear tests for a couple of years.
Trump has done his due diligence to glen this through peaceful means.
That leaves the military option to be the only option left.
Kim is a man that has demonstrated why we.can’t let him develop these weapons and missile systems.
Just think: IF Bernie or Steyer or Biden were in the White House, those planes would be flying on SOLAR PANELS !!!!!
And our submarines would be using windmills for power.
NO MORE FOSSIL FUELS HAS CONSEQUENCES....
They all are complete idiots.
Yep. I call BS and throw a brown flag!
“The North said in response that the country has nothing more to lose.” Not a very bright statement. The Nork people, AND K.J. Un have their LIVES to lose. In the peons’ hard scrabble existence their lives may not be much. But KJU, with all the luxuries he has accrued unto himself; unless he’s tired of dancing to the tune of the old, calloused commie generals who could have him wasted if he makes a wrong step.
If the traitorous scum we have in the Democrat Party & MSM press would sublimate their quest for power to the safety of our country and stand with President Trump AGAINST North Korea and Iran, the perhaps this situation could have been defused and resolved many months ago.
Then a glimmer of hope would appear for the millions of North Koreans and Iranians who long to be free. Instead, Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff, Nandler, Rachael Madcow et al are blinded by their quest for power...and perhaps for some of them, the destruction of America.
Did not realize SK had purchased Green Pine radar systems from Israel. Actually didn’t realize they were selling them. I love that the radar is so powerful it could almost be categorized as a directed energy weapon. ;-)
The North said in response that the country has nothing more to lose.
I’m dreaming of a Nork Christmas,
the kind with a radioactive glow
May Kim Jong glow so bright
Too bad Seoul. Now rebuild it right!
China runs NK, and is choosing between the US handling NK, or SK and Japan and other neighbors getting nukes too.
Not a tough choice.
Sounds like the old Hawk SAM. The millimeter wave illumination radar could supposedly cook the pilot of the aircraft it’s engaging.
I read a fiction book at least 25 years ago about Iraqi jets going after and AWACS plane that supported the Israeli Jets on the Osirak reactor mission.
The AWACS lights up one of the Iraqi jets with it’s radar and cooks the pilot.
Was written long before the raid details were declassified.
Non-stealth US aircraft did not fly over Norklandia.
That is certain.
LOL
But from 53,000 feet the horizon is almost 300 miles away.
U2 (various models) planes fly over Korea all the time.
Official stance is they aren’t there but they can be seen circling up over Osan in the mornings to gain altitude and circling back down later in the day/evening.
With all due respect, the biggest setback for Kimmie boy was the Punggye-ri facility imploding on itself killing more than 200 of his nuclear scientists, workers, etc..
I have to wonder how much money Kimmie boy has spent luring out of work Russian nuclear scientists into NK to rebuild that program the past few years ....
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