NORTH KOREA: North Korea criticised the United States yesterday over plans to boost US military fire-power around the Korean peninsula as tension mounted over the nuclear crisis. Russia said it too was opposed to any build-up.
Any expansion of US forces in the region would play a "negative role because it won't bring a desirable solution of the problem by talks but ... may provoke a response", a Russian foreign ministry statement said.
North Korea, which frequently accuses Washington of planning an invasion, said the weapons build-up confirmed that Washington was out to destroy the Stalinist regime.
The accusation came as the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il stepped up inspection tours of military installations and the Pentagon ordered B-52 and B-1 bombers to prepare for deployment in the western Pacific to augment US forces in South Korea.
"The United States is scheming to boost its military strength in Japan and South Korea in an attempt to squeeze us to death," North Korea's state-run radio said in a broadcast monitored by the South's Yonhap news agency.
The US plans to boost the US military presence around the peninsula follows a request by the commander of US forces in the Pacific, Admiral Thomas Fargo, for additional fire-power to deter North Korea, a US defence official said.
Twelve B-52 bombers and an equal number of B-1 bombers were being prepared to move, he said.
"We are discussing ways to ensure our existing security commitments are adequately covered while US forces potentially engage elsewhere," said a Pentagon official.
The United States has 37,000 troops in South Korea and keeps an aircraft carrier battle group in the region almost continuously.
If the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, now based in Japan, was ordered to the Gulf, the Pentagon official said it could be replaced either with land-based aircraft or another aircraft carrier.
US defence officials report no unusual military preparations by North Korea. In Seoul, Gen Leon LaPorte, commander of US forces in South Korea, said no request had been made by him for reinforcements.
"We will consult with [South Korea's] Ministry of National Defence if additional forces are required on the Korean peninsula for the accomplishment of our mission," he said in a statement.
According to Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the regime's reclusive leader Kim yesterday paid a visit to a naval base and praised the spirit of seaman ready to die for their country. It was his 10th visit this year to military bases.
KCNA reported he set forth "important tasks which would serve as guidelines in further strengthening" North Korea's naval force.