SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has already expressed its anger over the annual U.S. and South Korean military drills that have been taking place. And an announcement today from the U.S. military isn't going to make the North any happier.
Officials say the United States has sent two of its B-2 stealth bombers, with nuclear capability, to South Korea and back. They took part in the military exercises by dropping dummy munitions on an island there.
It's the first time the military has announced the use of stealth bombers in the annual drills with South Korea.
The show of force from the United States follows weeks of escalating rhetoric from North Korea, which has said a war with South Korea may be just days away.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the addition of the stealth bombers to the military drills with South Korea was part of normal exercises and not intended to provoke a reaction from North Korea.
But he says North Korea's belligerent tones and actions in recent weeks have ratcheted up the danger in the region. He said the United States has to be prepared to defend its interests as well as the interests of its allies.
