US deploys bombers, stealth jets in response to North Korea's threats

The United States has deployed nuclear-capable bombers and cutting-edge stealth jets as a show of force against North Korea.

The step came after the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un derided doubts about her country’s military and threatened a full-range intercontinental ballistic missile test, Associated Press informs.

According to South Korea’s Defence Ministry, the deployment of the US B-52 bombers and the F-22 stealth fighter jets for joint drills with South Korean warplanes was part of an agreement to protect South Korea with all available means, including nuclear,

“The drills, which also included F-35 and F-15 fighter jets from South Korea, took place in the waters southwest of Jeju island. The US F-22 jets were deployed in South Korea for the first time in four years and will stay throughout this week for training with South Korean forces,” the ministry said.

The drills were reportedly held after North Korea claimed to have launched a test satellite for the development of its first military spy satellite, and tested a solid-fueled motor to be used on a more mobile intercontinental ballistic missile in the past several days.

North Korea already has fired a record number of missiles this year as a warning over the previous US-South Korean military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal. There are concerns it may react to the latest aerial training by the allies with a new round of missile tests.

Earlier Tuesday, Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, used a slew of derisive terms — such as “malicious disparaging,” “rubbish” and “dog barking” — when she dismissed the outside assessments that cast doubt on North Korea’s spy satellite development and long-range missiles.