U.S. B-1B bombers participate in joint drill in South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. B-1B Lancer bombers and advanced stealth fighter jets conducted joint bombing drills in South Korea on Wednesday, as a part of ongoing air drills this week with South Korea.

The South Korean military's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the B-1B strategic bomber planes arrived from the Anderson Air Force Base in Guam to participate in the five-day exercise.

Washington usually deploys B-1B in pairs as a response to North Korea provocations as a show of force, or during routine training.

The high-altitude, supersonic bombers were joined by U.S. F-22 and F-35 stealth fighter jets to conduct simulated strikes at a military field in Gangwon Province, Korea Economic Daily reported.

The F-22 Raptor is capable of striking major facilities in the North without detection.

The South Korean Air Force deployed F-15K, KF-16 and F-5 fighter jets.

The JCS said that the war games demonstrated the strong will and capability for strong retaliation against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, Yonhap reported.

The United States and South Korea began the largest-ever Vigilant ACE drills on Monday, mobilizing 230 aircraft and 12,000 personnel.