F-35 stealth fighters will participate in large-scale US-South Korea military exercises. (Source: Wikipedia)

The 12-day exercise took place at various air bases in South Korea, mobilizing about 110 aircraft, including South Korean F-35A and F-15K stealth fighters, US F-35B and F-16s, and MQ-9 drones, Yonhap news agency reported.

The Royal Australian Air Force also participated with a KC-30A multi-role refueling aircraft.

According to the South Korean Air Force, this is the first time the exercise has involved the coordination of fighter jets and drones, aiming to simulate real-life combat situations based on recent conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine.

The drills come amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after Seoul accused Pyongyang of sending troops to Russia to fight in Ukraine, while North Korea called the speculation "groundless".

South Korea even warned that it would consider providing lethal weapons to Ukraine and send troops to the Eastern European country to monitor North Korea's moves.

Regarding this, on October 24, Russian Ambassador to South Korea Georgy Zinovyev affirmed that Seoul's provision of offensive and defensive weapons to Kiev would not change the outcome of the special military campaign, but they would "change the nature of relations between Moscow and Seoul, and destroy the prospects for restoring this relationship."

So far, South Korea has provided financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, but not lethal weapons.

The Russian diplomat also noted that he had no official information about the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.

According to Ambassador Zinovyev, Ukraine's "hysterical campaign" around such information stems from the country's "desperate situation" and is aimed at "pushing Western partners to increase aid".