Lead

South Korea's Marine Corps announced on Thursday that it had conducted regular live-fire drills on islands near the tensely guarded inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea. The exercise involved K9 propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems, according to Yonhap News.

Coverage Comparison

Two reports from Yonhap News described the same core facts: the drills took place on the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong, near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border. The Marine Corps said the drills are defensive in nature and are part of routine exercises held in waters south of the NLL. Officials said troops fired some 330 rounds into surrounding waters.

One version of the report added background noting that the live-fire drills were suspended in 2018 under an inter-Korean pact aimed at reducing military tensions, and that South Korea resumed them in 2024 after the suspension of that pact under the previous conservative government of Yoon Suk Yeol. It also noted that despite speculation the drills could again be suspended under the current liberal government of Lee Jae Myung, the military has staged live-fire drills near the border islands as scheduled on five occasions since June last year.

Key Claims

  • The Marine Corps staged regular live-fire drills on islands near the inter-Korean maritime border, involving K9 propelled howitzers and Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems.
  • The drills took place on the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong near the Northern Limit Line.
  • The drills were described as defensive in nature and part of routine exercises in waters south of the NLL.
  • Troops fired approximately 330 rounds into surrounding waters.
  • The drills were suspended in 2018 under an inter-Korean pact, and South Korea resumed them in 2024.
  • The Northwest Islands Defense Command, responsible for security on five islands in the Yellow Sea, conducts live-fire drills every three months.