The Korean Peninsula’s neverending “rising conflict” drama continues this week as the South holds a series of joint air drills with the United States. At the same time, the North uses such military exercises as an excuse for its continuing provocative behavior.

In this week’s update, armed forces from the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the US staged another combined aerial exercise mobilizing an American nuclear-capable B-52H strategic bomber, F-35Bs, F-16s, and ROK’s F-35 fighter jets.

ROK is the official name of South Korea.

According to Seoul’s defense ministry, the recent drill is another joint effort to bolster regional deterrence capabilities against evolving Pyongyang threats.