Seoul: Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Wednesday visited a front-line unit near the western maritime border in the Yellow Sea and inspected the readiness posture, the defense ministry said. Ahn's visit marks a significant event as it is the first time the country's defense chief has visited the border island unit situated on the island of Maldo along the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Ahn also visited a special reconnaissance unit during his itinerary, where he received operational updates and offered words of encouragement to the troops. The minister emphasized the importance of "realistic" training for the troops to gain valuable experience and improve their operational capabilities.

The waters near the NLL have historically been a point of tension between the two Koreas, witnessing several bloody naval skirmishes. North Korea has consistently refused to recognize the NLL, insisting that the border should be redrawn further south.