by David Corrigan

The United States deployed F-22 stealth fighter jets to South Korea on Sunday – part of the joint military “Foal Eagle” exercise between the two allied countries.

This as North Korea’s war rhetoric – as characterized by U.S officials – continues to increase.

North Korea declared the armistice with South korea invalid on March 11, and state-run Korean Central News Agency has reported the North is in a state of war with its neighboring country.

North Korean state reports show leader Kim Jong Un apparently approving a plan to prepare standby rockets to hit U.S. targets in the Pacific, including in Hawaii, Guam, and South Korea.

But U.S. officials and analysts have considered the show to be merely disruptive banter. Both the Pentagon and the South Korean government say it’s nothing new.

The United States military command in South Korea says Foal Eagle is intended to demonstrate the country’s commitment to stability and security in the Asia-Pacific Region.