North Korea 'attacks US aircraft carrier and bomber' in inflammatory propaganda

Doctored pictures and video showing US aircraft bombarded by a Pukguksong missile have been released by North Korea.

The images were from a state-owned propaganda site, DPRK Today and released hours after US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers, despatched from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam flew close to North Korea’s east coast.

The bombers were accompanied by US Air Force F-15C Eagle fighter escorts that came from Okinawa, Japan, according to Yonhap News agency.

Saturday’s airborne mission was the furthest north of the demilitarised zone separating North and South Korea that any US fighter aircraft has ventured into this century.

The propaganda photos released by North Korea were from a video that also showed a Pukguksong-2 missile launched from a B-1B and a F-35. In computer-generated images, the two US jets explode in a huge firestorm.

Also in the video, there are scenes of a North Korean submarine-launched missile scoring a direct hit on the USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered supercarrier.

The film issues a stern warning to the United States, with subtitles stating: “Should F-35, B-1B and the Carl Vinson lead the US attack, they will head to the grave in that order.”

North Korea has a long history of creating propaganda videos using computer-generated technology. These include a simulated attack on the White House and one of President Trump standing in a graveyard.

Anti-US sentiment remains strong in Pyongyang, where a huge rally was held on Saturday, according to AP.

Tens of thousands gathered in Kim Il Sung Square to hear speeches from officials. Demonstrators shouted out “total destruction”, while students held signs with slogans saying “death to the American imperialists.”

North Korea’s official news agency KCNA said that more than 100,000 people attended the mass protest.

“We are waiting for the right time to have a final battle with the US, the evil empire, and to remove the US from the world,” said Ri Il-bae, a commanding officer of the Red Guards, reported KCNA. “Once respected Supreme commander Kim Jong-un gives an order, we will annihilate the group of aggressors.”