South Korea cancels new artillery drill on tense island

South Korean veterans attend a protest rally denouncing North Korea in Seoul, on Monday. Photo: AP.

South Korea’s military has cancelled a live-fire artillery exercise planned for Tuesday on the front-line island targeted last week by a deadly North Korean bombardment.

Officials from the South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters on Monday that the plans to fire artillery rounds into waters southwest of Yeonpyeong Island have been cancelled.

The military did not give a reason for the cancellation.

Similar live-fire manoeuvres by South Korean troops one week ago triggered the North’s bombardment that decimated parts of Yeonpyeong Island, killed four people and drew return fire in a clash that set the region on edge.