Seoul: US F-35 fighter jets have been deployed to the Korean Peninsula to join the ongoing summertime combined exercise between South Korea and the US, an official at US Forces Korea (USFK) said Monday.

According to Qatar News Agency, the deployment of reportedly some 10 F-35 variants comes as the allies' annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise is under way for an 11-day run that will conclude Thursday. Both the F-35A and F-35B, respectively assigned to the US Air Force and the US Marine Corps, have been deployed to Kunsan Air Base under the temporary deployment, according to the USFK official.

During their deployment, the US fighter jets were set to train with South Korean counterparts, with a focus on defensive counterair maneuvers and strengthening integrity, to enhance their combined readiness and deter potential threats in the region. Both considered key US air assets, the F-35A operates from traditional runways with greater range and payload for strike and air superiority, while the F-35B is capable of flexible operations from ships or austere bases based on its short takeoff and vertical landing capability.