Seoul — In the face of growing tensions with North Korea, the US and its ally South Korea have again demonstrated their military strength in a joint air exercise.
According to the South Korean Defence Ministry, the United States sent a long-range B-52H bomber to the Korean peninsula for joint air exercises on Wednesday. The bomber can serve as a nuclear weapons carrier.
The successive deployments of strategic weapons systems to the region underscored US efforts to improve the credibility of extended deterrence, it said. The US had previously sent a B-52 bomber on March 6.
By extended deterrence, the US means the full range of its military capabilities to defend South Korea - including nuclear weapons.
The latest air exercise between the two countries took place over the Yellow Sea between the Korean Peninsula and China, according to South Korean media reports.
The drills demonstrated the readiness to respond quickly to any provocation by North Korea, South Korean Air Force Commander Park Ha Sik was quoted as saying by the ministry.
US naval forces recently held joint anti-submarine warfare exercises with South Korea and Japan, with the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz taking part. This exercise was also intended to deter North Korea.
The conflict with North Korea has become much more explosive again since last year. Despite a ban by UN resolutions, North Korea increased the scope of its tests with ballistic missiles, which - depending on their design - can also be equipped with a nuclear warhead.
The widely isolated country also intensified its rhetoric against the US and South Korea. Both countries have resumed full-scale joint manoeuvres.
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