S.Korea strengthens firepower against provocation from North Korea

South Korea has strengthened its firepower near the western maritime border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over the past three years to enhance capability to counter possible provocations fromNorth Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday, citing military officials.

Around 1,200 South Korean troops were additionally forward- deployed to military units near the six northwestern islands along the disputed western sea border following the North Korea's deadly shelling of South Korea's border island of Yeongpyeong on Nov. 23, 2010.

The exchange of artillery fire between the two Koreas claimed lives of four South Korean soldiers.

The number of K-9 self-propelled howitzer, which was the only tool to fire back against the North Korea's shelling three years ago, more than double over the past three years. It has a range of some 40 kilometers.

Among newly or additionally deployed weapons were multiple rocket launchers, Artillery Hunting Radar (ARTHUR), Cobra attack helicopters and K-10 ammunition supply vehicles.

Deployment of Spike missiles with a range of about 20 km was completed in May to counter attacks from the DPRK's coastal artillery units. The precision-guided missiles can strike the North Korea artillery hidden in mines.

Seoul also plans to introduce surveillance blimps by early 2014 to enhance its monitoring of the North Korea forces near the sea border.