S. Korea conducts defense drills on western border islands

South Korea conducted regular defense drills on islands near the tense western inter-Korean maritime border, the Marine Corps said Friday, as part of efforts to enhance readiness against North Korea's potential artillery and drone provocations.

Some 6,600 troops from the Marine Corps, the Navy, the Army and the Air Force, as well as 10 vessels and 35 aircraft, including Apache and Blackhawk helicopters, were mobilized for the three-day exercise that began on Wednesday, according to the Marine Corps.

The training, organized as part of the annual Hoguk exercise, focused on an array of drills meant to enhance combat capabilities, including response measures against the North's drone and artillery provocations and counterterrorism operations involving key facilities.

The exercise also involved joint training with the local government and medical personnel to help evacuate island residents and injured troops in the event of emergency situations, according to officials.

The Marine Corps said it will continue to conduct regular maritime firing drills in the area to enhance its artillery operations capabilities and maintain a firm military readiness posture.

Waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) — the de facto inter-Korean maritime boundary — have been a flashpoint between the two Koreas, where three bloody naval skirmishes took place in 1999, 2002 and 2009.

North Korea has never recognized the NLL, demanding that it be redrawn further south. (Yonhap)