Numerical simulations are carried out for flow over a circular cylinder controlled by the momentum forcing which is generated by a pair of plasma actuators symmetrically mounted on the cylinder surface. A popular and empirical plasma model is used for the spatial distribution of momentum forcing. In this study, we consider two different types of actuation, i.e., steady and unsteady (or pulsed) actuation. In the unsteady actuation, the actuation is turned on and off periodically, its frequency being a control parameter. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of actuator location and actuation frequency on the flow structures and the forces on the cylinder. Results show that the cylinder wake can be effectively controlled by proper actuator location. For example, when the actuators are located at $120^{circ}$ from the stagnation point, vortex shedding is completely suppressed with the boundary layer almost fully attached to the surface, resulting in drag reduction and lift elimination.