2nd LD Writethru: U.S. B-52 bomber deployed in S. Korea in retaliation for DPRK's nuke test

A U.S. B-52 bomber, capable of delivering nuclear missile, was deployed on Sunday in South Korea in retaliation for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s fourth nuclear test.

The long-range bomber, which departed from the U.S. Anderson base in Guam on Sunday morning, arrived and flied over South Korea's Osan air base at about noon, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

Air forces of South Korea and the United States made the joint announcement when the nuclear missile-mounted bomber arrived, Yonhap reported.

The B-52 bomber can infiltrate at the highest altitude of 55,000 feet, or 16.8 km, carrying 35 conventional bombs and 12 cruise missiles.

It can also deliver air-to-ground nuclear missiles with a range of 200 km and air-launched cruise missiles with a range of 2,500-3,000 km.

The deployment came as part of retaliatory measures after the DPRK said Wednesday it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb.

If confirmed, it would mark the DPRK's first hydrogen bomb test and the fourth nuke test in total. Previous tests were conducted in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

In retaliation for the nuclear test, South Korea began blaring propaganda messages at Friday noon from speakers across the border into the DPRK, which called it an "act of declaring war."

The South Korean frontline units, near 11 sites where the set of loudspeakers restarted psychological warfare with anti-DPRK messages, have been on the highest alert.

The U.S. and South Korean militaries are reportedly considering additional retaliatory measures, which include the deployment in South Korea of the U.S. aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan currently in Yokosuka, Japan.

The retaliation also includes the deployment of a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine and F-22 stealth fighter. Enditem