SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s Defense Ministry says its marines are conducting live-fire drills from a front-line island that was shelled by North Korea in 2010.
A ministry official says the drills are occurring Thursday at Yeonpyeong Island near the disputed sea border.
The official says the drills are routine firing exercises and there haven’t been any suspicious activities by North Korea’s military. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.
Similar drills in 2010 triggered a North Korean artillery bombardment that killed four South Koreans.
The official says the artillery drills are the first at Yeonpyeong since North Korean leader Kim Jong Il died last month.
He says marines are holding similar drills from nearby Baengnyeong Island.