Photo shows a US Airforce B-52H bomber in flight. B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber used by the United States and has been in service since the 1950's. (Photo by US Airforce)

SEOUL  - The North Korean army on Thursday threatened a possible strike against US military bases in Japan, in response to the use of nuclear-armed US B-52 bombers in joint military drills with South Korea.

"The US should not forget that the Anderson Airbase in Guam where the B-52s take off, as well as naval bases at Japan's main island and Okinawa, are all within the range of our precision target assets," a spokesman for the North's supreme army command said in a statement carried by state media.