DPRK, S. Korea exchange fire across maritime border

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea on Monday exchanged fire into the sea across the western maritime border, Yonhap news agency reported.

The DPRK has fired several artillery shells in waters north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL), or the disputed sea border, amid its live-fire drill started in the morning. Some shells landed south of the NLL into South Korea's territorial waters and Seoul responded with its own artillery fire, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

South Korean military said the number of the shells it fired should be equal to that from the DPRK that landed into South Korea 's territorial waters, Yonhap quoted the JCS as saying, adding that Seoul's army, navy and air force has declared a state of emergency.

South Korea has also evacuated border island residents amid the live-fire drill.

The DPRK declared a no-navigation zone in waters near the western maritime border earlier in the day, banning ships from sailing near the NLL.