North Korea: Tensions flared up between North and South Korea as North Korea conducted artillery drills near the disputed sea border, breaching a fragile 2018 military agreement. Officials reported that the firing of 200 rounds by North Korea in the waters north of the contested western sea boundary prompted South Korea to ready similar exercises.

This recent engagement marks the first set of drills between the rivals in nearly a year, intensifying their already strained relationship. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff labeled the North Korean drills as a provocation, despite South Korea not sustaining any damage. The response from South Korea involves planning corresponding drills, yet specific details were not disclosed.

In light of these developments, residents of Yeonpyeong, a frontline island in South Korea, were requested to evacuate as the South Korean military planned maritime firing drills for later on Friday.

The sea boundary between the Koreas has been a historic site of intense inter-Korean sea battles since 1999. In 2010, North Korea launched artillery strikes on Yeonpyeong island, resulting in the deaths of four South Koreans.

The 2018 agreement aimed to cease live-fire exercises and aerial surveillance in designated no-fly and buffer zones along their border. However, recent tensions have jeopardized this deal, especially following North Korea's launch of its first military spy satellite in November.

Accusations between the Koreas escalated further when South Korea resumed front-line aerial surveillance in protest of the satellite launch, alleging North Korea's restoration of dismantled front-line guard posts.

Earlier, North Korea's state media reported leader Kim Jong Un's directive to increase the production of mobile launch vehicles for missiles. Kim emphasized this move due to a perceived impending military confrontation with adversaries. Transport erector launchers (TELs), key components for missile mobility, were the focus of Kim's visit to a factory without disclosing specific dates or locations.

TELs allow North Korea to transport missiles clandestinely across its territory, making it challenging for adversaries to detect launches in advance. Experts estimate North Korea possesses between 100 to 200 such vehicles, underscoring the significance of Kim's push to bolster production capacity in response to what he termed a "grave situation."

Anticipating the U.S. presidential election, Kim is expected to escalate weapons tests, believing that a bolstered military capability could strengthen negotiations, particularly if former President Donald Trump were to be reelected.

In a recent ruling party meeting, Kim vowed to expand the country's nuclear arsenal, launch additional military spy satellites, and reinforce military preparedness in response to perceived U.S.-led confrontations, citing joint military drills between the U.S. and South Korea that sometimes involve long-range bombers and a nuclear-armed submarine.

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