North Korea Holds Live-Fire-Drill at Maritime Border, South Warns

Local Editor

North Korea held a live-fire drill near its maritime border with South Korea, with Seoul saying it would respond ‘strongly' if any shells fall on its side of the disputed boundary, according to Reuters on Tuesday.

"Our military is fully prepared," ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok said, adding that, "If any shell lands on our side of the border, South Korea will respond strongly."

The firing began at about 2 pm local time and no rounds appeared to have landed south of the live disputed Northern Limit Line border, a military official said.

South Korea's defense ministry said it was notified early on Tuesday that drills would take place near two islands west of the Korean peninsula.

South Koreans living on or fishing near the islands have been told to evacuate to safe areas until the exercises cease.
A similar drill in March resulted in more than hundreds of artillery shells being fired into each other's territorial waters.

The Northern Limit Line between North Korea and South Korea is not recognized by Pyongyang as he argues that it was drawn by the US-led United Nations forces after the 1950-53 Korean War.

Tensions have been on the rise between the two Koreas over the past few months amid South's annual joint military exercises with the United States.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team