The navy and marines went ahead with the planned exercises despite a lowering by North Korea of its military alert status to a pre-crisis level, prompting similar moves by Seoul and US forces, a report said Friday.
"(The exercise) began as planned," a defence ministry spokesman told AFP, declining to give details.
Yonhap news agency quoted unidentified South Korean government sources as saying that the North recently lifted a special alert it issued on November 21 for its military forces on the coast near the sea border.
"The North Korean military recently withdrew an order for special military readiness it had issued in connection with our Hoguk military drills (in November)," a source was quoted as saying.
The South Korean military and US forces in South Korea had consequently reduced their own alert status by one notch to a normal level, the source said.
A defence ministry spokesman declined to comment on the report.
Navy officials have said Friday`s manoeuvres are designed to enhance the South`s capability to repel a surprise landing on islands.
Command posts were involved in the war games but it was unclear whether troops were mobilised.
Cross-border tensions have been high since the North shelled a South Korean island on November 23, killing four people including two civilians.
The South has since staged a series of military exercises, including a live-fire drill on December 20 on the island, but the North did not follow through with threats of a new and deadlier attack.
The North`s artillery attack in November prompted South Korea to strengthen defences along the sea border.
But tensions have softened since the New Year. In an unusually cordial statement Wednesday, Pyongyang offered "unconditional" talks with Seoul.
South Korea responded cautiously to the North`s peace overture, saying Pyongyang must be judged on actions rather than words.
(U.H-RN/P003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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