The Marine Corps conducted maritime live-fire drills today (July 2) in the waters near the Northwest Islands, close to the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea.

According to the Northwest Islands Defense Command, the 6th Marine Brigade and the Yeonpyeong Unit, both under the command, carried out the drills this afternoon. The 6th Brigade is stationed on Baengnyeong Island, and the Yeonpyeong Unit is deployed on Yeonpyeong Island.

The drills involved the units' organic weapons, including K9 self-propelled howitzers, Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, Spike missiles, and Bigung guided rockets. These weapons fired approximately 300 rounds toward virtual targets in the open sea to the southwest.

The Marine Corps stated, "This was a routine, defensive exercise conducted in our waters south of the NLL, involving the units' organic weapon systems."

This marks the second maritime live-fire drill in the Northwest Islands this year and the first in about four months since February 26. The drills, which were typically held three to four times a year, were suspended following the 2018 Comprehensive Military Agreement between South and North Korea. They resumed in June 2024 after the Yoon Suk Yeol administration decided to fully suspend the effect of the 9.19 military agreement.

Although there had been speculation that the drills might be suspended under the Lee Jae-myung administration's stance of proactively and gradually restoring the 9.19 military agreement, this exercise was carried out as planned, marking the fifth consecutive drill since June of last year.

(Photo: Provided by Marine Corps Headquarters, Yonhap News)