South Korea drops bombs on border with North Korea in show of ‘overwhelming force

South Korea has just dropped eight heavy bombs near the border with North Korea.

According to Yonhap news agency, the bombing was to show off the country’s ‘overwhelming force’ after Pyongyang’s launching of a ballistic missile over the north of Japan.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in ordered the strike, by four F-15K fighter-bombers, at a firing range in the east of the country to ‘display a strong capability to punish’ North Korea, should it decide to attack.

 All eight bombs hit their targets at a testing ground on South Korean soil, officials said.

The MK-84 multi-purpose bomb weighs 2,000lb, and can penetrate 11 metres of earth and 11 feet of concrete.

North Korea sparked international fear and outrage by testing an immediate-range ballistic missile that was big enough to carry a nuclear warhead. The missile flew over Japan’s northern Hokkaido island.

Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe condemned the test as an ‘unprecedented, serious and grave threat’, adding: ‘We will do our utmost to protect people’s lives.’

The launch apparently came from Sunan, where Pyongyang’s airport is located, meaning that it’s likely the missile was fired from an airport runway.

Japan’s J-Alert warning signal told everyone in the area to seek shelter in a ‘sturdy building or basement’.

The missile then broke into three pieces and fell into the waters off Hokkaido.

Tensions have been rising between Pyongyang and the US-South Korea coalition.

South Korea and the US have been carrying out joint war games close to the border with North Korea, leaving Kim Jong-un paranoid that they are preparing for an invasion.