Naval drill hikes tensions

ABOARD THE ROK DOKDO (AP):

South Korean troops fired artillery and dropped sonar buoys into the Yellow Sea, as naval drills kicked off yesterday, near the spot where a warship sank four months ago.

Some 4,500 South Korean troops aboard more than 20 ships and submarines, as well as about 50 aircraft were mobilised to take part in the five days of naval exercises off the west coast, including spots near the two Koreas' maritime border, the joint chiefs of staff said.

North Korea called the drills a military provocation that threatened to re-ignite war on the Korean peninsula.

"If the puppet warmongers dare ignite a war, (North Korea) will mercilessly destroy the provokers and their stronghold by mobilising the most powerful war tactics and offensive means beyond imagin-ation," the ruling Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland said in a statement.