US 🇺🇸 bombers fly close ✈️ to North Korea 🇰🇵 to show force

US bombers escorted by fighter jets have flown close to North Korea's east coast, according to US officials, in a display of military strength after an escalating war of words between the two countries.

The Pentagon said Saturday's flight was the farthest north of the demilitarised zone separating North and South Korea that any US fighter jet or bomber has flown this century.

It said the operation over international waters showed the seriousness with which Washington took Pyongyang's "reckless behaviour", amid rising tensions over North Korea's nuclear tests.

"This mission is a demonstration of US resolve and a clear message that the president has many military options to defeat any threat," said Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White, calling North Korea's nuclear weapons programme "a grave threat".

Trump called Kim a "madman" on Friday, a day after the North Korean leader dubbed him a "mentally deranged US dotard" in retaliation for the US president saying Washington would "totally destroy" the Asian country if it threatened the US or its allies.

UCJ, UNILORIN.