Asia-Pacific

ROK to resume firing drill on Yeonpyeong island

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-16 15:38

SEOUL -?Republic of Korea (ROK)?will soon carry out a live fire artillery drill on the island shelled last month by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), local media reported citing the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

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The planned drill will be conducted in waters south-west of Yeonpyeong island near the disputed western maritime border between the two Koreas on a selected day from Dec 18-21 depending on weather conditions, a JCS official told Yonhap News Agency.

The firing exercise was canceled after the DPRK bombarded Yeonpyeong on Nov 23 in what Seoul said was an unprovoked attack, killing two marines and two civilians.

The DPRK claimed the attack was for self-defense and provoked by?ROK's shelling near the disputed sea border it never acknowledged.