South Korea says North Korea conducts live-fire drills along west coast

Yonhap news agency quoted a South Korean military source as saying that on January 7, North Korea continued to conduct live-fire drills in the western coastal area.

Specifically, the exercise took place north of South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island at around 4 p.m. (local time).

No shells fell south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas, and there were no reports of casualties.

Officials in Ongjin County, which administers South Korea's northwestern islands, issued a warning for islands near the border after artillery fire was heard from North Korea.

"Soldiers on Yeonpyeong Island are currently responding, but residents are advised to exercise caution when engaging in outdoor activities," the county government said in a message.

North Korea has held live-fire drills off its southwest coast for a third straight day, raising tensions near the maritime border.

On January 5, North Korea fired nearly 200 artillery shells from the area, prompting soldiers on Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong islands to also conduct live-fire drills in response.

On January 6, North Korea conducted live-fire drills for the second consecutive day, firing nearly 60 artillery shells in the above area, according to the South Korean military.

Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said on January 7 that the country conducted a "deception operation" by detonating a simulated sound of 130mm artillery shells, while mocking the South Korean military's detection capabilities.