SEOUL, November 15. /TASS/. Servicemen from South Korea and the United States have conducted air drills with the US B-52 strategic bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons, the South Korean Defense Ministry reported.

"South Korea and the US conducted the drill in connection with the deployment of a B-52H strategic bomber [in the skies over] the Korean Peninsula," the South Korean military said. This is the 12th US Air Force strategic bomber drill this year. The maneuvers took place in the Yellow Sea with the participation of F-35A and F-15K fighter jets of the South Korean Air Force. The US side flew F-35B and F-16 jets.

The Yonhap news agency said that two B-52 bombers took part in the exercise. In total, the US has involved these aircraft in joint maneuvers with South Korea seven times this year.

The South Korean Defense Ministry recalled that on November 13 in Seoul, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed his country’s commitment to staying true to extended deterrence, including trotting out strategic assets more frequently. The regular appearance of US strategic assets has the same "effect" as their permanent basing in South Korea, the military said.

The drills demonstrated that the US and South Korea "can give an immediate and devastating response to any provocation" by North Korea, the statement said. Seoul and Washington will continue to maintain full combat readiness, the military added.

The B-52 landed on South Korean territory for the first time on October 17. On that day, it took part in the drills and flew over the site of an international aerospace and military equipment exhibition during its opening ceremony.