Seoul, South Korea-February 2, 2023
South Korea announced that it had conducted

Joint air maneuvers with the United States, during which strategic bombers and stealth chases were used, infuriated its northern neighbor
The planes flew over the Yellow Sea, located between the Korean Peninsula and China, in the first such exercises this year. This show of force comes after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart announced the strengthening of security cooperation against Pyongyang
These exercises included heavy long-range B-1B bombers, stealth pursuit aircraft of the US Air Force and F-35 fighter jets of the South Korean army, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry
The same source said that these air exercises, held on Wednesday, demonstrated "the Will and ability of the United States to ensure a broad, strong and reliable deterrence against threats from North Korea" associated with nuclear weapons and missiles
A spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry said that the United States could "ignite a comprehensive confrontation" with Pyongyang, the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported, adding that the steps taken by Seoul and Washington to intensify their joint exercises crossed a "maximum red line."
Seoul wants to convince an increasingly anxious public of the durability of Washington's commitment to support it in defense matters, a year after Pyongyang declared its status as a nuclear power "irreversible" and conducted a record number of weapons tests in defiance of international sanctions
Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup agreed this week to "expand and strengthen the level and scale" of their joint military exercises in the face of Pyongyang's "constant provocations", manifested especially by the recent incursion of drones
Pyongyang said in a statement that the strengthening of joint military exercises between Washington and Seoul, the deployment of strategic weapons in the region amounts to "talking about the use of nuclear weapons against the DPRK," that is, North Korea, according to a statement broadcast by the Central News Agency
North Korea warned that it would respond to a nuclear attack with nuclear weapons and " full confrontation with full confrontation, "adding that it was"not interested in any contact or dialogue with the United States as long as this country continues its hostile policy."
The joint U.S.-South Korean military drills infuriate Pyongyang, which sees them as drills for a possible invasion and responds with threats and maneuvers
"By emphasizing that the United States bears full responsibility for the deteriorating situation on the Korean Peninsula, (North Korea) has gained legitimacy to develop its missile and nuclear weapons programs," said Yang Mojin, a professor of studies on North Korea at Seoul University, adding that a major North Korean military parade and the planned launch of a spy satellite, could exacerbate tension in the confrontation between Seoul and Washington
The north38 website reported that satellite images reveal that "major preparations for a parade" are taking place in Pyongyang days before one of the country's biggest celebrations
The same source said that this parade may be organized on February 16, that is, on the "Bright Star day", which marked the birth of Kim Jong Il, the son of the founder of North Korea Kim Il Sung and the father of the current North Korean leader Kim Jong Un