N. Korea keeps rocket launchers in position

North Korea has kept deployed at a coastal area 122-millimeter multiple rocket launchers used to attack South Korea`s front-line Yeonpyeong Island Tuesday.

The militaries of both Koreas have remained in ultra-high tension for four days since the North`s shelling attack.

A South Korean military official said Friday that 18 multiple rocket launchers the North deployed to a coastal area in South Hwanghae Province remained in their positions, noting no signs of the weapons being moved back to a rear area.

"Perhaps the North is keeping the multiple rocket launchers in their positions to cope with the South Korea-U.S. military exercise to start Sunday in waters off the west coast," the official said.

"Our military remains on high alert against the possibility of additional provocations by the North under the excuse of the joint South Korea-U.S. exercise."

South Korean Marines on the island are keeping their K-9 self-propelled guns aimed at the North. All six guns are ready to fire as two that malfunctioned Tuesday have been repaired.

As reinforcing firepower on the island takes time, fighter jets are complementing the forces on the island, an official said.

The North also admitted aiming artillery shots at the South`s Marines on Yeonpyeong but failed to mention it shelled residential areas there.

The Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, an organ under the North`s ruling Korean Workers` Party, claimed in a statement that its forces "precisely targeted and struck" South Korean artillery units Tuesday that fired on the North`s territorial waters. The North said it "will teach a merciless lesson" to whoever provokes it.

The committee added, "The army and people of our country are greatly enraged at the provocation of the puppet group while getting fully ready to give a shower of dreadful fire and blow up the bulwark of the enemies (if they violate the North`s sovereignty)."

mhpark@donga.com