US deploys three B-2 Bombers

US deploys three B-2 Bombers to Guam amid Korea tensions

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The Pentagon is deploying three B-2 nuclear-capable bombers to the Pacific island of Guam amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh said on Monday.

“We are in the process right now of deploying three B-2s on a scheduled rotation,” Welsh in response to a reporter’s questions about the U.S. response to increased tensions in Korea.

Welsh said the deployment was part of the Air Force’s continuing bomber presence in the Pacific and that no additional force deployments were planned in response to the tensions.

Privately, defense officials said the bomber deployment is intended as a sign of American support for South Korean military forces. The strategic bombers are part of U.S. extended nuclear deterrence designed to bolster Seoul’s military in squaring off against nuclear-armed North Korea.

“On a macro level, [the bombers] are certainly directed at sending a message to North Korea,” a senior defense official said.

The senior official said it is “too soon to tell” whether an agreement between North and South Korea aimed at lowering tensions will succeed.

origina post found herhttp://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/08/25/us-deploys-three-b-2-bombers-to-guam-amid-korea-tensions/?intcmp=hplnws

held for body armour

Hong Kong journalist held in Bangkok for body armour

A Hong Kong photojournalist is out on bail in Bangkok after he was held for carrying body armour and a helmet while reporting on the recent bomb blast.

Anthony Kwan Hok-chun was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport when boarding a flight to Hong Kong on Sunday. The items were found in his luggage.

Thai law prohibits possession of military equipment without a licence.

He may face a charge of carrying an illegal weapon, and could be jailed for up to five years if found guilty.

Journalists regularly use body armour and helmets when reporting from dangerous locations.

Mr Kwan told the BBC that he is still being investigated and police have yet to formally charge him.

origina post found herhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-34038395

agreement to ease tensions:North &South

North, South Korea reach agreement to ease tensions

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North and South Korea reached agreement early on Tuesday to end a standoff involving an exchange of artillery fire that had pushed the divided peninsula into a state of heightened military tension.

Under the accord reached in the very early hours of Tuesday after more than two days of talks, North Korea expressed regret over the recent wounding of South Korean soldiers in landmine blasts and Seoul agreed to halt anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts, both sides said.

North Korea also agreed to end the "semi" state of war it had declared. The two sides will hold follow-up talks to discuss a range of issues on improving ties, the joint statement said.

"It is very meaningful that from this meeting North Korea apologised for the landmine provocation and promised to work to prevent the recurrence of such events and ease tensions," Kim Kwan-jin, national security adviser to South Korean President Park Geun-hye, told a televised news briefing.

South Korean defence ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said both sides would begin rolling back heightened military postures at noon (0300 GMT), when the loudspeaker broadcasts will formally halt and the North's state of war status will be lifted.

Pyongyang has previously denied laying the landmines, and in the statement did not explicitly take responsibility for them.

origina post found herhttp://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/08/25/uk-northkorea-southkorea-agreement-idUKKCN0QT1WT20150825