U.S. air force in S. Korea in "semi-war state"
Pyongyang, February 6 (KCNA) -- The command of the U.S. 7th air force in South Korea was put in a "semi-war state" what it called "defense readiness condition 3" on Feb. 3, according to the South Korean newspaper Segye Ilbo on Feb. 5. In this connection, the U.S. Forces side in South Korea described this measure as a stronger one, hinting that the U.S. troops may directly use force in case North Korea goes ahead with the nuclear development.Meanwhile, a senior official concerned of the South Korean authorities said that the command of the U.S. 7th air force in Osan was placed in a "semi-war state" equivalent to the "defense readiness condition 3". This measure was taken after the commander-in-chief of the U.S. Forces in the Pacific asked the Pentagon to send to Korea over 20 B-1 and B-52 bombers and more than ten fighters and dispatch aircraft carrier Calvinson to replace carrier Kitty Hawk supposed to join the Iraqi war, he added.
The command has over 100 aircraft including F-16 and A-10 in its Osan and Kunsan bases in South Korea and they constitute the backbone of the U.S. Forces in South Korea together with the U.S. second army division.
Such military moves of the U.S. imperialists indicate that their scenario to start a war on the Korean Peninsula has entered a more dangerous phase of its implementation.
