The US Air Force is preparing to place its fleet of B-52 bombers rigged with nuclear weapons on 24-hour alert for the first time since 1991 amid escalating tensions with North Korea.
A senior US Air Force official told security news website Defense One on Sunday that American military leaders are reacting to new threat levels.
“The world is a dangerous place and we’ve got folks that are talking openly about use of nuclear weapons,” General David Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff, said, referring to North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un who has threatened to attack the US with nuclear weapons if it continues its aggressive policy against his country.
Goldfein said no official order had been given to put nuclear bombers on alert, but said preparations are underway. That decision would be made by the commander of US Strategic Command, or the head of US Northern Command.
“This is yet one more step in ensuring that we’re prepared,” he said…