Alarm bells ringing as US continues to up the stakes

A week after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea tested its most sophisticated and powerful intercontinental ballistic missile to date, the United States and the Republic of Korea began joint air force exercises on the Korean Peninsula on Monday.

The drill reportedly involves some of the US' most advanced military hardware, including F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters, and perhaps B1-B bombers.

However, the power disparity in favor of the US and the ROK is unlikely to put a break on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.