A South Korean source familiar with North Korean affairs says Pyongyang positioned more coastline artillery near its western sea border with the South last year.

The source said the North increased the amount of coastline artillery positioned on islands near the Northern Limit Line while stepping up training of its troops.

However, the source added that North Korea adjusts the amount of coastline artillery on a situational basis, saying that the number was also reduced at one point during the second half of last year.

The North’s coastline artillery has a relatively short range of between five and seven kilometers but may pose a threat to South Korean military patrol vessels operating around the sea border.