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Tensions have hit an all-time high between the United States and North Korea after repeated warnings and sanctions against the communist country to stop missile tests, and end its nuclear program, have gone unheeded.

Just a few days ago, they launched a missile that flew over Japan, causing residents to wake up to the sound of alarms in major cities.

North Korea recently had some of the heftiest UN sanctions yet slapped down on them, even getting economically reprimanded by China, yet it seems to have done little to deter the defiant nation.

On Thursday, the United States decided to flex some muscle in Kim Jong Un’s face by flying bombers and fighters in drills with South Korea.

The Washington Times is reporting:

The United States flew some of its most advanced warplanes in bombing drills with ally South Korea on Thursday, a clear warning after North Korea launched a midrange ballistic missile designed to carry nuclear bombs over Japan earlier this week, South Korea’s military said. North Korea hates such displays of U.S. military might at close range and will likely respond with fury.

Two U.S. B-1B supersonic bombers and four F-35 stealth fighter jets joined four South Korean F-15 fighters in live-fire exercises at a military field in eastern South Korea that simulated precision strikes against the North’s “core facilities,” an official from Seoul’s Defense Ministry said.

The B-1Bs were flown in from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam while the F-35s came from a U.S. base in Iwakuni, Japan, the official said. He didn’t want to be named, citing office rules.

The North, which claims Washington has long threatened Pyongyang by flaunting the powerful U.S. nuclear arsenal, describes the long-range B-1Bs as “nuclear strategic bombers” although the United States no longer arms them with nuclear weapons. A strong North Korean reaction to the drills is almost certain.

The bombing exercise came as the United States and South Korea wrapped up their annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military drills that involved tens of thousands of soldiers. North Korea condemns the annual U.S.-South Korea war games as rehearsals for an invasion and described Tuesday’s launch over Japan as a countermeasure against the drills. Washington and Seoul faced calls to postpone or downsize this year’s drills.

The North Korean government called its test missile over Japan a “meaningful prelude” to containing the U.S. territory of Guam.

Kim Jong Un is displeased with the U.S. for continuing their war games with South Korea, and has called for more ballistic missile tests targeting the Pacific Ocean.

It appears North Korea doesn’t seem to understand the potential catastrophe they are sure to bring down on themselves if they should decide to attack us or one of our allies. They have been given countless opportunities to back down without making this a military issue, but those chances are disappearing quickly.

President Trump isn’t the kind of leader to take this sort of thing without impunity, so if they wish to forego a military intervention — which they would lose, without question — it’s time for them to get with the program.

[NOTE: This article was written by Michael Cantrell. Follow him on Twitter @MCantrell0928 and on Facebook]