(VOVworld) – The Republic of Korea’s army announced on Tuesday that a live fire drill was being carried out in the country’s eastern sea involving naval and air forces.

Deputy spokesperson for the Defense Ministry Na Seung Yong said approximately 20 ships, an anti-submarine helicopter and several jet fighters were involved in the drill. He said the drill was aimed at testing the ability of the navy to conduct joint operations with other military forces and coping with any provocations from Pyongyang. The exercise took place a few days after Pyongyang announced its successful test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile and a live fire drill near the disputed border line between the two Koreas on the Yellow Sea.