DPRK conducts large-scale artillery drills

SEOUL - The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted large-scale live-fire artillery drills on Tuesday to mark its army anniversary, said South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement.

The DPRK staged the large-scale exercises of firepower on Tuesday afternoon around the city of Wonsan on the east coast, it said.

The South Korean military was closely monitoring the DPRK's moves as it maintains firm combat readiness, said the statement.

Tuesday's drills, believed to be the largest-ever live-fire exercises carried out by the DPRK, reportedly involved between 300 and 400 long-range artilleries. The drills were observed by top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The DPRK in the past tended to mark significant dates by displaying its military capabilities. On April 15, the country conducted a massive military parade in Pyongyang to mark the birthday of its founder Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of Kim Jong Un.

The live-fire drills in the DPRK on Tuesday came amid ongoing joint military exercises of South Korea and the United States.

The US-South Korea war games, code-named Foal Eagle, kicked off on April 13 and would last till the end of the month. It was denounced by the DPRK as a rehearsal for northward invasion.