U.S. F-22 fighter jets set to join South Korea military exercise

Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald / U.S. Air Force via Reuters, file

Two U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth jet fighters fly near Andersen Air Force Base in Guam in this handout photo dated August 4, 2010.

By Courtney Kube and Andrew Rafferty, NBC News

In a move aimed to further deter threats from North Korea against its neighbor to the south, the United States sent F-22 stealth fighter jets to South Korea on Sunday to join military exercises.

The deployment comes as tensions are near an all-time high between Pyongyang and Washington. ?Kim Jong Un has?ratcheted?up the rhetoric?against?both South Korea and the United State in recent months, and in February violated U.N. sanctions by ordering a nuclear weapons test.?On Saturday, North Korea had entered a "state of war"?against South Korea, according to a statement reported by the north's official news agency, KCNA.?

"[North Korea] will achieve nothing by threats or provocations, which will only further isolate North Korea and undermine international efforts to ensure peace and stability in Northeast Asia," according to a?statement from the?U.S. military command in South Korea?announcing the fighter jets deployment.

The exercise, called "Foal Eagle," is meant to reinforce "the U.S. commitment of its most advanced capabilities to the security of the Republic of Korea," according to the statement.

The stealth?aircrafts?were deployed to the Osan Air Base in South Korea from Japan to engage in bilateral military drills.

Kim Jon Un has also recently threatened to "settle accounts" with the U.S. and posed near a chart that looked to detail bombings of American cities.

The F-22 jets arrival follows other recent displays of air power by the U.S. in South Korea. Last week B-52 bombers and B-2 stealth bombers were sent to the country for the annual?exercise.?

In another sign of how tense things have become, Pope Francis on Easter Sunday called for??renewed spirit of reconciliation? on the Korean Peninsula.

Related:

North Korea: Nukes are our country's 'life'

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