North Korea has deployed dozens of artillery guns at key positions on the west coast near the Northern Limit Line maritime border with South Korea.

In a report to the National Assembly on Friday, the Defense Ministry in Seoul says that after North Korea conducted an artillery shooting drill into waters north of the NLL at the end of January, it deployed more forces in the area and expanded the exercise.

A ministry official says the North has been deploying artillery guns in areas near the Yellow Sea since the inter-Korean maritime skirmish occurred last November. He said the North has also been constantly shifting the position of combat forces during winter military exercises.

The 240-millimeter artillery guns can fire shells as far as 60 kilometers and are therefore considered a threat to the Seoul metropolitan area.