Seoul: NKorea plans live fire drills near disputed western sea boundary

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea says North Korea has announced plans to conduct live-fire drills near the rivals’ disputed western sea boundary.

The planned drills Monday come after an increase in threatening rhetoric from Pyongyang and a series of rocket and ballistic missile launches in an apparent protest against annual military exercises by Seoul and Washington.

Pyongyang threatened Sunday to conduct a fourth nuclear test at some point, though Seoul says there are no signs of an imminent detonation.

Seoul’s Defence Ministry says North Korea says it will conduct firing drills in seven areas north of the sea boundary. Seoul responded that it will strongly react if provoked.

Pyongyang routinely test-fires artillery and missiles into the ocean, but it’s rare for the country to disclose such training plans in advance.