S. Korean marines hold live-fire drill near Korean sea border

South Korea's Marine Corps has conducted a maritime live-fire drill near the inter-Korean sea border in the Yellow Sea. Thursday''s shooting drill was the first South Korea has held in the forward area since the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on December 17th last year, according to Korea''s (KBS WORLD) website. South Korean marines stationed on Baengnyeong Island and Yeonpyeong Island took part in the two-hour maritime shooting exercise. K-9 self-propelled guns, 20-millimeter Vulcan cannons and 81-millimeter trench mortars were mobilized for the drill. A Marine official said the drill was a routine monthly shooting exercise and unrelated to the death of Kim.