THE US staged its own terrifying show of strength today by dropping huge bombs near the North Korean border - days after Kim Jong-un's latest missile outrage.

Four US F-35B fighter jets joined two nuclear-ready US B-1B bombers and four South Korean F-15 fighter jets in the joint military operation over the troubled Korean Peninsula.

The rogue state described the drills - which saw target bombing close to its border - as the "rash act" of a desperate nation.

14 South Korea F-15K planes drop MK-82 bombs at a simulated target at the Pilseung Range in Gangwon Credit: AFP

14 Explosions erupt on the mountain landscape after being peppered by the munitions Credit: AFP

14 A US Air Force B-1B drops a MK-84 as it flies over South Korea during the joint military drill Credit: Reuters 14 Two B-1Bs fly from Guam with an escort of a pair of Japanese F-15s and US Marines' F-35B fighter jets Credit: Reuters

"The wild military acts of the enemies are nothing but the rash act of those taken aback," said Kim's mouthpiece, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. The exercise was designed to "strongly counter North Korea's repeated ballistic missile tests and development of nuclear weapons," a South Korean official told CNN. In a statement, the US air force said its bombers flew out of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and four stealth fighter jets from a US Marine Corps base in Japan. They conducted a shocking bombing attack, which simulated a surgical strike of key enemy facilities, over the Pilseung Range in the eastern province of Gangwon - which neighbours North Korea. The sabre rattling drill followed North Korea's latest weapons test - which was the first ballistic missile fired OVER Japan. North Korea has been test-firing missiles at a rapid clip this year. With each launch, experts fear Kim's military can further refine and perfect its missile technology. The bomber flights have becomes a common response to North Korean actions but the dropping off bombs is seen as an escalation by the US.

14 US Marine Corps F-35B fighter jets (front) and South Korean air Force's F-15K fly over South Korea Credit: AP 14 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), MK82 and MK84 bombs, were dropped in the drill Credit: Handout - Getty 14 The drill came after President Donald Trump said words would not resolve the Korean conflict Credit: AP

B-1Bs flew over the Korean Peninsula following both of Pyongyang's recent tests of intercontinental ballistic missiles, the type of weapons designed to deliver nuclear warheads to far-off locations like the mainland United States. The bombers flew from Guam, the closest US territory to North Korea and the target of North Korean threats in recent weeks. PREPARING FOR WAR Get the lowdown on what to do if there is a nuclear attack The mock attack came after President Donald Trump said it was becoming clear words would not resolve the Korean conflict. The state-run Korean Central News Agency said its latest missile launch was "a meaningful prelude to containing Guam," which it then called the "advanced base of invasion" for US forces. In a follow-up statement, KCNA promised future launches "targeting the Pacific, where the US imperialist aggressor forces' bases are stationed". "It should not be forgotten even a moment that the whole of South Korea can turn into ruins," the statement added. Kim earlier vowed never to stop his bid for nuclear weapons before predicting America's "final doom".

14 Kim's fearsome arsenal was tonight paraded on North Korean state TV Credit: Universal News (Europe)

14 The despot was pictured inspecting the missile prior to its launch early on Tuesday morning Credit: Universal News (Europe)

14 Kim appeared to watch on as the latest rocket was launched Credit: KCNA

14 Images of the launch that stunned the world have finally emerged Credit: AP:Associated Press

14 The Hwasong-12 intermediate range missile was launched from near Pyongyang Credit: AP:Associated Press

North Korea state media said the nation "can never stop bolstering up the nuclear deterrent".

And added that "no one can guess when a nuclear war may break out".

The statement from Kim's mouthpiece added: "The USA's more persistent moves to launch a nuclear war on the Korean peninsula would precipitate its final doom."

Last night, state TV revealed new images of Tuesday morning's missile launch, with Kim seen inspecting his nuclear arsenal.

Donald Trump's tone towards his nation's upstart rival was scarcely more diplomatic.

The President tweeted: "The US has been talking to North Korea, and paying them extortion money, for 25 years. Talking is not the answer!"

The U.S. has been talking to North Korea, and paying them extortion money, for 25 years. Talking is not the answer! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2017

Kim has vowed to fire more missiles as pictures emerged of the despot cackling maniacally as he oversaw the launch described as "just a curtain-raiser".

Just one day after his latest launch brought his country and American one step closer to war the smirking communist called for more weapons testing over the Pacific to advance his country's ability to contain Guam.

State media reported that the dictator had said: "The current ballistic rocket launching drill like a real war is the first step of the military operation of the Korean People's Army in the Pacific and a meaningful prelude to containing Guam."

The Rodong Sinmun newspaper, mouthpiece of the North's ruling party, on Wednesday carried more than 20 pictures of the launch near Pyongyang.

One showed Kim smiling broadly at a desk with a map of the Northwest Pacific, surrounded by aides.

14 North Korea has released pictures of Kim-Jong-un overseeing the latest missile test Credit: Reuters

14 Now the despot has vowed to fire even more rockets towards the Pacific Credit: KCNA

The fiery outburst came as the UN Security Council - which includes Russia and Kim's key ally China - unanimously condemned the "outrageous" launch.

North Korea today vowed to execute reporters from two South Korean newspapers, saying they insulted the country's dignity while reviewing and interviewing the British authors of a book about life in the isolated country.

KCNA carried a state court statement expressing anger over the descriptions of North Korean lives as increasingly capitalist.

It also objected to the translated title of the South Korean edition as "Capitalist People's Republic of Korea" and the book's cover that replaced the red star in North Korea's official seal with the US dollar mark.

North Korea's Central Court also "sentenced to death" the presidents of the newspapers and said the North will "track down to the end and cut off the dirty windpipes" of those responsible for such provocations.

South Korea's Unification Ministry denounced the North Korean comments as an "absurd threat" and said it "sternly warns" the North to immediately stop threating South Korean citizens.

Seoul's government is ready to take "every measure needed" to protect its citizens, the ministry said in a statement.

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