US Military Deploys B-1B Bombers, F-35 Fighters in Exercise near North Korean Border

The US military has deployed a pair of B-1B bombers and four F-35B fighter jets in a bombing drill with South Korea along the border with North Korea.

"They dropped inert bombs onto the Pilseung shooting range in Taebaek, Gangwon Province, during the exercise held from noon till 2:30 p.m., and returned to their bases" Yonhap reported quoting unnamed sources as saying Monday.

It was later joined by four South Korean F-15K fighters, two US Forces in Korea’s F-16 jets and three KC-135 tankers refuelling the aircraft, the source said.

The combined practice came three days after the North fired another intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan in the wake of a sixth nuclear test early this month.

The US dispatched four F-35Bs and two B-1Bs late last month in response to the North's ballistic missile launch.

The bombers flew from Guam and the F-35s flew from Japan joined by the South Korean fighters in the drill, South Korean defense ministry official were quoted as saying by Reuters.