South Korea has conducted large-scale military exercises around western border islands to practice deploying forces in the event of North Korean provocations.
The South Korean military said Sunday that maneuvers took place around the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong near the Yellow Sea border with the North, involving the Marines' quick maneuver force, the Navy landing ship (LST-II), the MUH-1 Marineon helicopter, and the Korean Assault Amphibious Vehicle (KAAV).
Also participating in the drills were Army helicopters, such as the AH-64E Apache, according to the North West Islands Defense Command.
The exercises came amid concern that North Korea could undertake localized provocations ahead of next month's parliamentary elections in South Korea.
