North Korean Live Fire Drills Conducted Along Disputed Sea Border

North Korean Live Fire Drills Conducted Along Disputed Sea Border

North Korean live fire drills were conducted recently close to its disputed border with South Korea where numerous clashes have occurred in the past.

A similar drill was also conducted by the North in March along the Northern Limit Line, which is a disputed sea border between the two countries. Over five hundred rounds were fired by North Korea with over one hundred rounds landing on the southern part of the border. South Korea responded by firing hundreds of rounds north of the border.

None of the North Korean rounds landed on the southern part of the NLL border in the most recent North Korean live fire drills.

The Northern Limit Line extends the land border between the two countries and extends into the sea. The line was not recognized as the sea border by North Korea, which occasionally challenges the North by breaching it and insisting on moving the border to the south. The current line arcs to the north, which has isolated five islands of South Korea from the mainland.

Residents of the islands were advised to seek cover in the shelters by military officials of South Korea. Numerous shelters were created around farming hamlets and fishing villages on the islands. Military presence was increased by South Korea following the barrage on Yeonpyeong Island in 2010 by North Korea.

Numerous naval clashes also resulted to the death of numerous sailors in the area. The most notable clashes happened in 1999 as well as 2002. A torpedo hit a navy ship of South Korea in March 2010 that resulted to the death of 46 sailors. The incident was denied by North Korea.

The North Korean live fire drills followed a notification to South Korea that the north will conduct the exercise along areas close to populated islands of South Korea.

Posted by James Fried on Wednesday April 30 2014, 3:07 AM EST. Ref: Reuters. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0