US, S. Korea conduct air drills involving B-52H strategic bomber
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South Korea's Defense Ministry says the American B-52H was redeployed to the Korean peninsula, a month after its previous deployment.
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A US B-52H Stratofortress prepares to fly over Southwest Asia, May 21, 2019 (US Air Force)
South Korea and the United States on Wednesday held joint air drills involving at least one US nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bomber, as per Seoul's military.
The DPRK (North Korea) views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion and has responded to other recent drills with a spate of weapons tests.
In recent weeks, the DPRK launched an intercontinental ballistic missile and tested what the state-run media characterized as an underwater drone with nuclear capability.
Meanwhile, the US and the South have ramped up defense cooperation.
"The continuous deployment of major US strategic assets on the Korean peninsula is considered an act to enhance the US determination to defend South Korea and the ability to implement extended deterrence," South Korea's Defense Ministry claimed in a statement.
A month after its previous deployment, the American B-52H was redeployed to the Korean peninsula on Wednesday, as per the statement.
Wednesday's exercise also showcased South Korea's advanced F-35A fighter jet, the statement added.
DPRK urges UN to halt 'provocative' US-S. Korea drills
On March 5, the DPRK's Foreign Ministry called on the United Nations to urge a halt to joint military drills by Seoul and Washington.
In a statement by state-run news agency KCNA, the DPRK's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong underlined that the drills and rhetoric from the two allies have pushed tensions to an "extremely dangerous level."
"The UN and the international community will have to strongly urge the US and South Korea to immediately halt their provocative remarks and joint military exercises," Kim underlined.
The "irresponsible acts" of the allies will only take the regional situation "to a very critical and uncontrollable phase," the DPRK official warned.
Read more: DPRK conducts drills to improve nuclear counteroffensive readiness
