North Korea threatens ‘unprecedented’ response to South-US drills

US Air Force B-1B bombers, center, F-22 fighter jets and South Korean Air Force F-35 fighter jets, bottom, fly over South Korea Peninsula during a joint air drill in South Korea (South Korean Defence Ministry via AP/PA)

North Korea has threatened to take “unprecedently” strong action against its rivals, soon after South Korea announced a series of planned military drills with the United States to hone their joint response to the North’s increasing nuclear threats.

North Korea has halted weapons testing activities since its short-range missile firing on January 1, although it launched more than 70 missiles in 2022 — a record number for a single year.