Two US nuclear-capable B-2 bombers have completed a training mission in South Korea amid threats from North Korea that include nuclear strikes on Washington and Seoul.

The statement by US Forces Korea is an unusual confirmation. It follows an earlier US announcement that nuclear-capable B-52 bombers participated in ongoing US-South Korean military drills.

The US says the B-2 stealth bombers flew from a US air base and dropped munitions on a South Korean island range before returning home.

The announcement is likely to draw a strong response from Pyongyang. North Korea sees the military drills as part of a US plot to invade and becomes particularly upset about US nuclear activities in the region.

Washington and Seoul say the annual drills are routine and defensive.

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