Seoul: The Marine Corps said Tuesday it staged live-fire drills on islands near the inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea. The exercise, involving K9 self-propelled howitzers, took place on the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), according to the Northwest Islands Defense Command. During the drills, troops fired some 100 rounds into surrounding waters.

According to Yonhap News Agency, "This exercise was an annual, defensive drill conducted in South Korean waters south of the NLL, involving K9 self-propelled howitzers," the Marine Corps said in a release. It marks the first drill involving K9 howitzers in nearly three months, and the fourth session this year.