NORTH KOREA threatened retaliation today after the United States flew long-range bombers over South Korea during joint war games with South Korean warplanes.

The US flew B-1B bombers to train with other US and South Korean fighter jets on Tuesday. South Korea’s Defence Ministry had said the drill was meant to show the two countries’ combined deterrence capability against North Korea’s nuclear programme.

The US and South Korea routinely hold joint military exercises that they describe as defensive. But North Korea regards them as provocative and an invasion rehearsal.