Two U.S. F-22 stealth fighters on Wednesday departed from South Korea back to their base in Japan, local media reported, in the latest show of force against North Korea.
Two radar-evading fighters were previously deployed from Kadena air force base in Japan to Osan Air Base in South Korea on Sunday (March 31) as part of Foal Eagle joint military exercise between the U.S. and South Korea.
North Korea has denounced the joint drills, saying they were rehearsals for war.
The U.S. military announced last month it was bolstering missile defences in response to threats from the North, including a threat to conduct a preemptive nuclear strike against the United States.