USA and South Korea, joint exercises after the launch of North Korean missiles

SEOUL - South Korea and the United States conducted joint air exercises involving a US nuclear-capable B-1B strategic bomber on Sunday after North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan . This was reported by South Korean news agencies, citing sources in the South Korean army. The joint US-South Korea exercises took place on the Korean peninsula. The same are part of the ongoing Freedom Shield exercise, which began on March 13, which also involved South Korean F-35A fighters, US F-16 fighters and B-1B strategic bombers. A similar exercise was held in the area on 3 March. South Korean media reported that Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile from the Tongchang-ri area on North Korea's west coast amid Japanese protests. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the missile flew about 800 kilometers and landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The latest North Korean test launch comes three days after Pyongyang fired a Hwansong-17 ICBM in response to joint military exercises led by the United States and South Korea.