South Korean Marines conduct live-fire drills on Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands
The Marine Corps carried out a regular live-fire exercise on the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong near the Northern Limit Line, firing about 200 rounds.
On Monday, the Marine Corps executed a scheduled live-fire drill on Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands, which lie close to the contested inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea. The operation, described as an annual defensive exercise, involved the firing of about 200 rounds from K9 self-propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple-launch rocket systems into the surrounding waters. It is the third drill conducted this year, with earlier sessions held in February and July.
The drills had been suspended in 2018 when both Koreas signed a pact to ease military tensions, but were resumed in 2024 after the agreement was abandoned by the previous conservative administration led by Yoon Suk Yeol. The Marine Corps said the exercises are intended to maintain readiness and deter potential threats near the de facto maritime boundary known as the Northern Limit Line.
Why it matters
The drills signal South Korea's continued military readiness along a volatile maritime border with North Korea.
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