Seoul, Dec. 21, 2022, SPA -- The Republic of Korea and the United States conducted combined air drills, involving U.S. B-52 strategic bombers and F-22 stealth fighters, on Tuesday, in an effort to strengthen the credibility of America's "extended deterrence," Yonhap cited Seoul's defense ministry as saying. The drills took place in the South's air defense identification zone southwest of its southern island of Jeju. The South's F-35A stealth jets and F-15K fighters also joined the drills. The training session contributed to enhancing interoperability between the allied forces and strengthening their operational capabilities as the two countries' newest-generation fighters practiced procedures to escort and protect the bomber, a key U.S. strategic asset, according to the ministry. --SPA 01:17 LOCAL TIME 22:17 GMT 0007 www.spa.gov.sa/w1829311