SEOUL, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted large-scale, live-fire artillery drills Tuesday to mark the 85th anniversary of its army, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.
An unnamed South Korean government source was quoted as saying that signs were detected on the DPRK's drills of artillery firepower around the city of Wonsan on its east coast.
It was believed to be the largest-ever live-fire exercise carried out by the DPRK, which mobilized some 300 to 400 long-range artilleries. The drills were reportedly observed by top leader Kim Jong Un.
The DPRK tended to mark significant dates by displaying its military capability. On April 15, the country conducted a massive military parade in its capital Pyongyang to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the birth of its founder Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of Kim Jong Un.
The live-fire drills on Tuesday came amid the ongoing military exercises by the joint forces of South Korea and the United States.
The U.S.-South Korea war game, codenamed Foal Eagle, kicked off on April 13 and would last by the end of this month. It was denounced by the DPRK as a rehearsal for northward invasion.
