Rival Koreas scramble warplanes in extension of tensions

Visitors walk near the wire fences decorated with ribbons with messages wishing for the peace of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea (Lee Jin-man/AP)

South Korea has scrambled dozens of military aircraft, including advanced F35 fighter jets, after spotting 180 North Korean warplanes flying in North Korean territory in what appeared to be a defiant show of strength.

North Korea’s aerial exercises on Friday came after the North test-fired around 30 ballistic missiles during the two previous days, including an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Thursday that triggered evacuation warnings in Japan, in an angry response to US-South Korea joint air force drills involving hundreds of their warplanes.