South Korea has begun live-fire drills in waters near Yeonpyeong Island south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea.

A Seoul official says some 280 residents, reporters, public officials and construction workers on the island have been informed about the drill.

The official says the drills are part of routine military exercises the South has conducted for a long time for the defense of its northwestern islands. He said representatives of the Military Armistice Commission and U.N. member nations will observe the drills.

The South Korean military has dispatched at least one KDX-Two destroyer, which is equipped with cruise missiles, to the area to respond to any potential North Korean provocations.

The official says that if North Korea launches an illegal military attack on the South, Seoul will respond immediately and sternly.

On November 23rd of last month, North Korea launched an artillery attack on Yeonpyeong that killed two South Korean soldiers and two civilians.