South Korea started on Wednesday three-day military exercises in the Sea of Japan some 100 km south of the disputed border with North Korea, Yonhap news agency cited a spokesman for the South Korean Defense Ministry as saying.
The move comes amid growing tensions between Pyongyang and Seoul, which escalated when North Korea shelled the South's Yeonpyeong Island on November 23, killing four people and provoking an exchange of fire between the hostile nations.
At least six naval ships and antisubmarine helicopters are taking part in the drills, which Yonhap said were aimed at demonstrating that the South Korean military is ready for "any surprise attacks from North Korean."
The North does not recognize the sea border between the two countries, known as the Northern Limit Line, and claims the waters around Yeonpyeong as its territory.
MOSCOW, December 22 (RIA Novosti)
