Marine Corps conducts regular live-fire drills on islands near inter-Korean maritime border

The Marine Corps said on Thursday that it staged regular live-fire drills on islands near the tensely guarded inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea.

The exercise, involving K9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems, took place on the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border.

The drills, which are defensive in nature, are part of routine exercises in waters south of the NLL, the Marine Corps said in a release.

During the drills, troops reportedly fired some 330 rounds into surrounding waters, according to officials.

It marked the second such drill this year, after the first session in February.

The Northwest Islands Defense Command, the unit responsible for security on five islands in the Yellow Sea — Yeonpyeong, Baengnyeong, Daecheong, Socheong and Udo — conducts live-fire drills every three months.

Yonhap