South Korea’s Military Holds Fire Drills Despite ‘Merciless Retaliation’ Threat From North Korea
South Korea's military continued with its fire drills on Nov. 23 despite threats of "merciless retaliation" from its rival, North Korea. Newsweek reported on the same day that South Korea's military carried out live-fire drills "on the anniversary of North Korea's 2010 deadly shelling of a South Korean island."
South Korea's defense ministry revealed that the live-fire drills were performed around islands near a disputed border between the two Koreas.
"The firing drills are regularly scheduled drills, and if the North mounts a provocation, we will respond strongly under our operational plan," Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min Seok said.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported Nov. 22 that the North Korea's military reportedly warned South Korea it "will experience merciless retaliation of the Southwestern Front units of the DPRK on the five islands," if South Korea's fire drills will cross the waters of the North.
The two Koreas reached an agreement to hold talks on November 26 which will highlight on easing the tensions between Pyongyang and Seoul. According to reports, the North Korea proposed the idea to its rival, which later accepted the offer for high-level discussions.
Further reports revealed that the high-level talks between the two peninsulas will be held at the Panmunjon truce village.
The scheduled talks will be the first governmental-level meeting that centers on mitigating the tensions between Pyongyang and Seoul since both parties reached an agreement to develop relations after an armed confrontation in August.
In addition, South Korea reportedly offered to hold government-level talks on several instances after the two parties agreed on a ceasefire on August 25. Following the agreement, the North and South Korea have also vowed to resume discussions on improving ties.
Aside from that, the agreement also covered the deal to hold family reunions for families detached by the Korean War. In October, around 400 elderly South Koreans crossed into North Korea to meet their relatives after being separated for decades.