Tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula after South Korea conducted a live-fire military drill near the disputed maritime border. The drill occurred earlier today on Yeonpyeong Island, where four South Koreans were killed last month when the North shelled the island. North Korea had threatened to strike if the South went ahead with the military drill, but so far there has been no military response from the North. South Korea went ahead with the drills despite protests from China and Russia. The United States supported the military drill, and some 20 U.S. military personnel attended the exercise in various support and observer roles. In South Korea, antiwar protesters held a rally in Seoul earlier today to oppose the live-fire military drill.

You Young-Jae: “Is there any reason that the army is conducting firing exercises in areas with problems, and which the other side is against? It might be called a full-scale war. On this point, the South Korean government must stop conducting the firing exercise right now and stop lying that it is a justifiable exercise.”