South Korea's Defense Ministry has announced large-scale joint air force drills with the US military as North Korea speeds up its nuclear and missile development.

The ministry said on Sunday that the exercises will start on Monday and run through April 28, and they will involve more than 100 aircraft, including F-35 stealth fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers.

The ministry has released a video showing military aircraft arriving at an air base in the southwestern city of Gwangju, where the drills will be held.

The maneuvers follow North Korea's announcement last week that it test-fired a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile.

The South Korean military says the drills are intended to reaffirm the strong alliance with the United States.

Also on Sunday, the military disclosed that it fired warning shots at a North Korean patrol vessel that crossed the maritime boundary between the two Koreas the previous day.

The South Korean military says the vessel is believed to have crossed the Northern Limit Line while chasing a Chinese fishing boat. It says the North Korean vessel returned to the other side after the shots.

The military adds that three crewmembers of its high-speed boat sustained injuries after it came into contact with the Chinese fishing vessel during the operation.