North Korea conducts artillery drills along disputed sea border, South Korea to stage similar drills

“North Korea fired artillery rounds near its disputed sea boundary with South Korea on January 5 in violation of a fragile 2018 military agreement,” officials said, prompting the South to plan similar drills.

“North Korea fired artillery rounds near its disputed sea boundary with South Korea on January 5 in violation of a fragile 2018 military agreement,” officials said, prompting the South to plan similar drills.

The rivals' drills are the first in about a year and are expected to deepen their already-serious animosity. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired 200 rounds in the waters north of their disputed western sea boundary.

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It called the North Korean drills a provocation, though South Korea suffered no damage. It said South Korea will take a corresponding step, but didn't elaborate.

Residents of South Korea's front-line island of Yeonpyeong said the South Korean military has asked them to evacuate because it plans to launch maritime firing drills later on January 5.

The Koreas' sea boundary has been the site of several bloody inter-Korean sea battles since 1999. North Korea also launched artillery strikes on Yeonpyeong island, killing four South Koreans, in 2010.