In a continuation of their provocative military actions, North Korea conducted a second round of artillery drills near the disputed sea boundary with South Korea on Saturday. The exercises came just a day after similar drills prompted a response from the South, escalating tensions between the two countries.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported that North Korea fired over 60 rounds near the western sea boundary on Saturday afternoon. This follows the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, calling for increased war readiness to counter what he perceives as deepening confrontation led by the United States.

Experts suggest that these frequent weapons tests may be aimed at strengthening North Korea's position in future negotiations with Washington, particularly as the U.S. presidential elections approach in November.

In response to the drills, South Korea strongly urged North Korea to cease activities that escalate tensions and warned that it would "overwhelmingly" respond to any provocations by the North. The statement did not specify if South Korea would conduct its own drills in retaliation.

These firing exercises conducted by both Koreas are a violation of a 2018 inter-Korean agreement intended to ease military tensions along the front-line buffer zones. However, growing animosity following North Korea's launch of a military spy satellite in November has strained the agreement, with both countries taking steps to breach it.

On Friday, North Korea fired approximately 200 artillery shells in its first maritime firing exercise within the buffer zone in about a year. In response, South Korea's Defense Ministry confirmed that troops on two border islands fired artillery rounds south of the sea boundary, with local media reporting around 400 rounds fired.

Ahead of the South Korean drills, authorities issued an evacuation order for residents on five major islands near the western sea boundary, citing concerns that North Korea may retaliate. The evacuation order was later lifted.

North Korea's military stated that its drills were a response to South Korea's earlier military training that week and warned that it would engage in "tough counteraction on an unprecedented level" if South Korea continued to provoke.

The western sea boundary, which is poorly demarcated, has been the site of naval conflicts between the Koreas in the past, including a 2010 incident where a South Korean warship was allegedly torpedoed by North Korea, resulting in the death of 46 South Korean sailors. The bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island in the same year by North Korean artillery also claimed the lives of four South Koreans.

Kim Jong Un's recent inflammatory rhetoric against South Korea, expressed during a key ruling party meeting, has further strained relations. He declared that South Korea should not be considered a partner for reconciliation or unification and instructed the military to prepare for all-out conflict, including the use of nuclear weapons.

Since 2022, North Korea has conducted over 100 missile tests, many of them targeting the U.S. mainland and South Korea with nuclear-capable weapons. In response, the U.S. and South Korea have expanded their military training, which North Korea perceives as rehearsals for invasion.