By Gao Ying

BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reports that the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim Jong Un, has supervised a live artillery drill close to a disputed sea border with South Korea. Meanwhile, Seoul is conducting its own routine drills near the demilitarized zone at the border of the two countries, in addition to joint military drills with the US.

It’s the latest sign of increased tensions on the Korean peninsula.

KCNA does not specify when the drill took place, but says Kim Jong Un oversaw live ammunition drills to test the capability of artillery batteries under battle conditions.

The exercises were reportedly aimed at the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong that lie just south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

The Line acts as the de facto sea border between the North and South. The DPRK does not recognize the NLL and has tried to impose its own demarcation line, which has been rejected by Seoul.

The DPRK’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that the Armistice Agreement that halted the Korean War could be nullified unilaterally.

Earlier, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the DPRK cannot unilaterally nullify the 1953 armistice and have demanded that Pyongyang withdraw statements that threaten regional peace and stability.

Meanwhile, two South Korea-US joint military drills "Key Resolve" and " Foal Eagle" are underway.

The "Key Resolve" joint drill has entered its fourth day, and involves the mobilization of more than 10-thousand South Korean and 3,500 US military personnel.

According to KBS, the drill rehearses for an emergency situation, in which the US would immediately aid South Korea with troops and arms.

The rehearsal includes working on the troops’ ability to attack and removing the DPRK’s nuclear facilities if Pyongyang wages a war.

And the one-month "Foal Eagle" joint exercise which kicked off on March 1st, will intensify surveillance on the DPRK.

In addition, a routine drill started Wednesday along South Korea’s border with the DPRK, involving 30 tanks and hundreds of South Korean troops.

(Source: CNTV.cn)