A U.S. bomber designed to carry nuclear weapons flew over the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday in what Seoul called a demonstration of willingness to “swiftly and overwhelmingly respond to any North Korean provocations.”

South Korean F-35A fighters, along with U.S. F-35B and F-16 fighters, escorted the American B-52H Stratofortress in a joint drill following numerous North Korean statements denouncing such actions as hostile “war demonstrations.”

“The B-52H strategic bombers, together with the U.S. aircraft carrier that visited South Korea last week, represent top U.S. strategic assets,” South Korea’s defense ministry stated in a press release announcing the drill.

The U.S.