The Pentagon dusts off plan to attack North Korea using bombers from Guam

  •  The Pentagon has a plan for a preemptive strike on North Korea
  • President Trump warned Tuesday that further threats would be met by 'fire and fury' 
  • The plan would dispatch B-1B bombers from Guam
  • North Korea threatened to strike Guam in escalating rhetoric 
  • Bombers would get escort from jets and drones 

By GEOFF EARLE, DEPUTY U.S. POLITICAL EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

The Pentagon has a detailed plan for a military strike on North Korea, dispatching heavy bombers from Guam – the fortified U.S. territory that Pyongyang is threatening with missiles.

The plan would be to launch heavy B1-B bombers from Guam's Andersen Air Force Base, limiting the flight time.

U.S. forces have conducted practice maneuvers as recently as Monday, NBC News reported – and have done 11 sets of exercises.

The bombers would get an escort from fighter jets providing protection. Satellites and drones would aide in the effort.

The Pentagon has a detailed plan for a military strike on North Korea, dispatching heavy bombers from Guam to take out missile launch facilities

The Pentagon has a detailed plan for a military strike on North Korea, dispatching heavy bombers from Guam to take out missile launch facilities

The planes would not carry nuclear payload, but would likely be armed with precision weapons designed to take out North Korea's array of missiles and missile launch sites.

'Of all the military options … [Trump] could consider, this would be one of the two or three that would at least have the possibility of not escalating the situation," retired Adm. James Stavridis told the network.

He added: 'A single long-range strike against against the nuclear program, a cyber offensive would be the second. Those are the only two military options that ought to be in serious consideration.'

The military has six of the powerful bombers already in position on Guam.

They would go after about two dozen missile targets in North Korea

They would go after about two dozen missile targets in North Korea

Bomber air crews would fly to North Korea from Guam, assisted by fighters, satellites, and drones

Bomber air crews would fly to North Korea from Guam, assisted by fighters, satellites, and drones

Each B-1B aircraft can carry up to 168 bombs, NBC reported

Each B-1B aircraft can carry up to 168 bombs, NBC reported

One downside: the attack would almost certainly draw a response, and North Korea has already threatened to fire missiles off the coast of Guam.

Since Guam is more than 2,000 miles away from North Korea, the attack plan would require a complex refueling exercise that the military constantly practices.

As for munitions, each bomber is equipped to carry 168 bombs. 

In this Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 image released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan, Japanese fighter jets, foreground, and U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers, background, fly over Japan's southern island of Kyushu during their joint exercise

In this Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 image released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan, Japanese fighter jets, foreground, and U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers, background, fly over Japan's southern island of Kyushu during their joint exercise

The Pentagon has a plan for a preemptive strike on North Korea

The Pentagon has a plan for a preemptive strike on North Korea

A top plan on the shelf would rely on B-1B bombers based at Andersen Air Force Base

A top plan on the shelf would rely on B-1B bombers based at Andersen Air Force Base

The bombers would get a fighter escort

The bombers would get a fighter escort

Bomber crews have been practicing the refueling exercise that would be required

Bomber crews have been practicing the refueling exercise that would be required

One weapon of choice would be the JASSM-ER. Manufacturer Lockheed-Martin describes it as: 'a long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missile for the U.S. and allied forces.'

'Designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets, JASSM’s significant standoff range keeps aircrews well out of danger from hostile air defense systems,' according to the description.

If the bombers used the JASSM-ER, they could conduct strikes without ever having to enter North Korean air space, protecting themselves from air defenses. 

The planes do not carry a nuclear payload

The planes do not carry a nuclear payload

Two U.S. officials told NBC the use of the bombers was among the options available. The Pentagon produces war plans for numerous, even highly improbable scenarios.

A military strike – long feared by the reclusive regime in Pyongyang – would almost certainly draw a response.

"Kim Jong Un would be compelled to respond. He would lash out militarily, at a minimum against South Korea, and potentially at long-range targets, perhaps including Guam. … That's a bad set of outcomes from where we sit now,' said Stavridis.

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