Gen. Paul Hester, commander of Pacific Air Forces, believes North Korea can be persuaded to stop developing nuclear weapons, according to Associated Press news service. Hester told AP that “there are many opportunities to change actions by a country and a regime without the demise of that regime. … Can [Kim Jong Il] change? I suspect that yes, he could change. Whether he would change is yet another question.” Hester spoke with AP during a visit to Harvard University on Oct. 17.
In a nighttime ceremony contrived to continue concealment of many of its features, the new B-21 bomber rolled out of Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, Calif. plant Dec. 2. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the aircraft's advanced technology represents "deterrence, the American way."