U.S. Sends F-22 Raptors to South Korea; North Korea Continues to Issue Threats

The United States has made its next move in the fight against North Korea. 2 U.S. stealth fighter jets were sent to South Korea on Sunday, according to CNN.com.

The deployment of the 2 F-22 Raptors were a part of South Korea’s annual Foal Eagle training exercises. The training exercises are a series of practice runs for military air support. The training exercises “are carried out in accordance with the armistice that put an end to armed hostilities in 1953,” reports CNN.

However, North Korea made public its denial of the armistice’s validity. On March 11, North Korea exclaimed that the armistice does not hold any weight.

According to a statement from American military stationed in South Korea, U.S. involvement in this year’s exercises is meant to show the United States’ “"commitment to stability and security in the Asia-Pacific Region". Officials from the United States and South Korean recently sat down and came up with a plan to counter various provocations from North Korea.

The statement also went on to issue another warning to North Korea. “"The (Democratic People's Republic of 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," the statement said. “"The North Korean leadership is urged to heed President Obama's call to choose the path of peace and come into compliance with its international obligations."

North Korea has made more bold statements recently. In its latest insult of the U.S., the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea said the U.S. is “boiled pumpkin”---meaning the United States would not be able to withstand an attack on its mainland.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un issued an order last week to have rockets aimed at the United States mainland as well as a few other U.S. territories.

While the U.S. is taking necessary precautions to defend itself against North Korea, officials believe the threats are nothing more than normal behavior from the North Korean government.

"But, we would also note that North Korea has a long history of bellicose rhetoric and threats, and today's announcement follows that familiar pattern," said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden.