US bombers drill near Korea DMZ in show of force

This handout photo taken on July 8, 2017 and provided by the South Korean Defence Ministry in Seoul shows the B-1B Lancers (top and L) flying over South Korea during a South Korea-US joint live fire drill conducted at a range in Yeongwol County. US bombers carried out a rare live fire drill in South Korea on July 8, flying close to the DMZ in a show of force after Pyongyang's latest missile test, the South's defence ministry said. Pic/AFP

US bombers carried out a rare live fire drill in South Korea on Saturday, flying close to the DMZ in a show of force after Pyongyang's latest missile test, the South's defence ministry said.

After the drill, the B-1B Lancers flew close to the tense and heavily militarised land border with the North before turning back. The exercise aimed to "sternly respond to the series of North Korea's ballistic missile launches," the South's military said.

Four US and South Korean jet fighters joined the live fire drill, each dropping a 900 kg laser-guided bunker-busting smart bomb.