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South Korea says it plans to go ahead with its planned live fire artillery drills. An official with the Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the drills would be conducted by Tuesday, in the waters south-west of Yeonpyeong island.
They will be the first of their kind since the two sides exchanged fire there last month.
Since South Korea's announcement of the live fire drills, tensions have continued to grow on the Korean peninsula.
Seoul said the drills' timing will depend on weather and other factors and they will go ahead as planned. The South Korean military has also stated that the drills are routine exercises for self-defense.
But the resumption of artillery drills around Yeonpyeong island has led to concerns from South Koreans.
Peace activists held a protest in front of the South Korean Defense Ministry. They are worried that the government's actions may prompt a war on the Korean Peninsula.
Yoo Young-Jae, Head of Solidarity for Peace & Reunification, said, "We are suspicious that having live-fire drills on Yeonpyong Island, where there is a maritime border dispute, is designed to induce the DPRK to fire back so that a local war will break out. Why should we have fire drills if Pyongyang might attack us back?"
Meanwhile, residents on Yeonpyong island are also worried. Some have been evacuated into shelters, but more are choosing to leave the island for safer locations.
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