SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The United States flew a B-1B long-range bomber over the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday as part of its first precision bombing exercise with South Korea in seven years, the South Korean military said.

The exercise, seen as a show of force against North Korea, comes at a time of growing tensions following the recent launch of North Korean garbage balloons toward South Korea and other provocations.

Wednesday's training also involved other modern U.S. and South Korean fighter jets, as well as the B-1B aircraft, the second U.S. bomber to be temporarily deployed over the Korean peninsula this year. The exercise was designed to demonstrate the U.S. security commitment to South Korea and strengthen the allies' joint defense posture, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.

During the exercise, the B-1B, accompanied by South Korean jets, dropped Joint Direct Attack Munitions. This was the first such bombing exercise by a US bomber since 2017, the ministry said in a statement.

It was said that South Korean fighter jets also conducted live-fire exercises to demonstrate the country's readiness to punish North Korea in the event of a provocation.

JDAM bombs also include “bunker busters.” JDAM is a guidance system that converts unguided, conventional bombs into more precise, GPS-guided weapons. All U.S. fighter jets, bombers and drones can use JDAMs, and the munitions are among the weapons systems the United States has provided to Ukraine to help it fight the Russian invasion.

North Korea is extremely sensitive to exercises involving bunker-busting bombs, as these could threaten its leadership role and its complex network of underground military tunnels and structures.

A B-1B can carry a large payload of conventional weapons. North Korea has previously called the bomber's deployment a test of US hostility. North Korea has responded to previous flights of B-1Bs and other powerful US aircraft in South Korea with missile tests of its own.

Last week, North Korea launched hundreds of giant balloons to drop garbage, cigarette butts, scraps of cloth and old batteries over South Korea, amid anger over past actions by South Korean civilians who sent balloons filled with leaflets and other items into North Korea. South Korea responded by announcing “unbearable” retaliation and suspending a fragile military agreement with North Korea that called on both sides to ease tensions along their border.

The suspension of the 2018 inter-Korean agreement allows South Korea to resume military activities such as firing drills or broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda over loudspeakers in border areas. Such moves are likely to prompt provocative responses from North Korea.

Recently, North Korea launched a rocket to put a second spy satellite into orbit, in violation of UN resolutions. However, the rocket exploded shortly after launch. North Korea also tested nuclear weapons in an exercise simulating a preemptive strike against South Korea and is said to have jammed GPS navigation signals in South Korea.

Since 2022, North Korea has significantly increased the pace of its missile tests. Foreign experts speak of an attempt to expand its nuclear arsenal and increase its influence in future diplomacy with the United States. Negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington on nuclear disarmament have been on hold since 2019.