South Korea ramps up defences with night artillery drills
South Korea conducted night artillery exercises near the border with North Korea, enhancing combat readiness in light of potential threats.
Key information
- Night artillery exercises took place in the maritime buffer zone on the Sea of Japan.
- Approximately 300 soldiers participated from the 3rd Corps of the South Korean Army.
- The exercises were aimed at strengthening defense against provocations from Pyongyang.
Night maneuvers in the Sea of Japan
The South Korean Army organized night artillery exercises in the maritime buffer zone near the northern limit line (NLL) on the Sea of Japan. These were the first such maneuvers since July of last year, intended to enhance combat readiness against potential provocations from North Korea.
Strengthening combat readiness
The exercises, which occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, involved approximately 300 soldiers from the 3rd Corps of the Army. Over 600 shells were fired from the coast of Goseong in Gangwon Province, utilizing self-propelled K9A1 howitzers and Chunmoo rocket launchers.
Reactions to Pyongyang's provocations
The suspension of the 2018 military agreement allowed these exercises to resume in the buffer zone. This decision was a response to provocations from Pyongyang, such as sending balloons with waste over South Korean territory and attempts to disrupt GPS signals.
Tense relations
Relations between North and South Korea are currently at their lowest point in decades. Pyongyang regards Seoul as a "hostile state," and Kim Jong Un has ordered the "total severance" of North Korea from its southern neighbour, preparing for a potential conflict.
