Seoul: South Korea's military announced on Thursday that it conducted airstrike drills against a mock mobile missile launcher earlier this week. This move appears to be a warning in response to North Korea's recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). According to Yonhap News Agency, the drills took place on Wednesday at a training ground in Taebaek, which is located 181 kilometers east of Seoul. These exercises were part of the ongoing Freedom Flag air exercise in collaboration with the United States, occurring just a day before North Korea launched an ICBM into the East Sea. Following the missile launch, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) released images depicting the drills targeting a mock transporter erector launcher with a laser-guided bomb, showcasing their preparedness to neutralize North Korean missile vehicles. North Korea typically utilizes such vehicles for launching its ICBMs, which have the potential to reach the U.S. mainland. The JCS further stated that the allies executed c ombined strike package drills on Thursday in reaction to North Korea's ICBM launch, marking the first such incident this year. The U.S. Air Force in South Korea reported that Thursday's exercises involved four U.S. F-16s flying in formation with four South Korean F-16s, conducting a "planned show-of-force" mission. The JCS emphasized in a release that the large-scale combined air exercise demonstrated the South Korea-U.S. combined defense capabilities and posture, capable of overwhelming adversaries in preparation for North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. Freedom Flag, being held for the first time this year, commenced its 12-day duration on October 21. It replaces the allies' two regular large-scale air drills, Korea Flying Training in the first half of the year and Vigilant Defense in the second half.