U.S. Stealth Fighters Conduct Precision Bombing Drill

U.S. F-35B fighter jets conducted a precision bombing drill over the Korean Peninsula last week as part of a huge contingent of special forces taking part in this year's joint exercises with South Korea, U.S military officials said Saturday.

South Korean and U.S. militaries are putting on their biggest show of force against the North since early this month, including the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and B-1 bombers.

The jets arrived from a U.S. military base in Japan and carried out a drill for hitting targets in North Korea in the event of a war on the peninsula. Six to eight F-35B jets conducted the drill in Taebaek, Gangwon Province from March 20 to 23, carrying precision-guided missile and small diameter bombs.

They can take off from and land vertically on a large landing ship, carrying a maximum of 6.8 tons of bombs and missiles.

Other U.S. aircraft such as the U.S. Marines' AV-8B Harrier vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, and AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters also participated in the drill.

"The latest bombing drill, with F-35B stealth jets which are capable of striking targets without being detected by radar, gives a strong warning to North Korea," military officers here said.

This year's joint exercises will continue until late next month.