South Korea's military has scrambled dozens of jets after detecting the mobilisation of 180 North Korean warplanes moving near the border between the two countries.
"Our military detected around 180 North Korean warplanes" mobilised in Pyongyang's airspace, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
They said that Seoul "scrambled 80 fighter jets including F-35As" while jets involved in the joint drills were also "maintaining readiness".
There were not any immediate reports of clashes.
North Korea's huge show of military jets comes just a day after the authoritarian state fired about 30 ballistic missiles during the two previous days, including an intercontinental ballistic missile that triggered evacuation warnings in Japan.
Tensions have once again risen in the area after the “Vigilant Storm” joint military drills began between the United States and South Korea, involving hundreds of aircraft and thousands of service members from both countries.
The training had been scheduled until Friday, but the allies extended it to Saturday in response to North Korea's intensified testing activity this week.
It's thought this angered the North and prompted them to conduct the failed test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
North Korea accused the allies of provocative action, launching 23 missiles, which is the most missiles it’s fired in a single day.
It said its tests were meant as a warning against the United States military drills with allies South Korea and Japan, which it sees as rehearsals for a potential invasion.
