Seoul: The Marine Corps announced Wednesday that it conducted live-fire drills on islands near the heavily monitored inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea for the first time since the Lee Jae Myung administration took office. The exercise, which involved K9 self-propelled howitzers, was held on Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), firing approximately 200 rounds into the surrounding waters.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Northwest Islands Defense Command stated its commitment to protecting national sovereignty and maintaining the operational readiness of troops stationed in northwestern island units. This regular drill proceeded as planned despite the new administration's efforts to reduce cross-border tensions. Earlier this month, the military ceased anti-Pyongyang loudspeaker broadcasts along the border as part of these efforts.
The waters around the NLL have historically been a point of contention between North and South Korea, with naval skirmishes occurring in 1999, 2002, and 2009. In November 2010, North Korea shelled Yeonpyeong Island, resulting in the deaths of two Marines and two civilians. Additionally, North Korea torpedoed a South Korean warship near Baengnyeong Island in March 2010, killing 46 sailors. North Korea has consistently refused to recognize the NLL, insisting that it should be redrawn further south.