Trump pokes 'rocketman' with bombers

US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighter jets flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea on Saturday, in a show of force the Pentagon said demonstrated the range of military options available to President Donald Trump.

The flight, which was disclosed shortly before North Korea's foreign minister was due to address the United Nations, was the farthest north of the demilitarised zone separating North and South Korea that any US fighter jet or bomber has flown in the 21st century, the Pentagon said.

"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 weapons programme a grave threat. "We are prepared to use the full range of military capabilities to defend the US homeland and our allies."

North Korea said Donald Trump's insult makes "our rocket's visit to the entire US mainland inevitable all the more".

The flight follows a week of heightened rhetoric from Washington and Pyongyang, with Trump and Kim Jong-un trading insults. Trump called the North Korean leader a "madman" on Friday, a day after Kim dubbed him a "mentally deranged US dotard".

Source: Khaleej Times