South Korea scrambled 80 stealth fighter jets and other warplanes on Friday after detecting over 180 North Korean military aircraft activities via radar, according to Seoul's defense authorities.
The North's aircraft, including fighters and bombers, were spotted flying between around 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. over its inland areas as well as the western and eastern coasts without approaching the inter-Korean border, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
In the same vein, the North accused the allies of pushing regional security to an "uncontrollable" stage by extending the practice.
"Our military is maintaining a firm readiness posture for further provocations while closely monitoring the North Korean military's related movements under close cooperation between South Korea and the United States," the JCS said.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated that North Korea is carrying out a nuclear test, adding that the Japanese government plans to activate the J-Alert nationwide.
Matsuno voiced concerns that the North may take further provocative actions that include doing a nuclear test.
He pointed out that the consideration followed early warnings about a North Korean missile launch that were issued through the system Thursday.
"Related government ministries and agencies are jointly considering remedial measures," Matsuno, Japan's top government spokesman, told a press conference.
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