S Korea conducts firing drills from border island

• South Korea has begun live-fire drills from a front-line island bombed last month by North Korea, in defiance of the North's threats to attack again.
• The Defence Ministry says the drills started Monday, and an Associated Press cameraman heard the booms of artillery explosions Monday afternoon.
• South Korean conducted the one-day live-fire drills from this tiny enclave of fishing communities and military bases only about 11 km from North Korean shores.
• The island was shelled by the North after similar drills last month. Two marines and two civilians were killed.
• The North considers the waters around Yeonpyeong its own territory and has threatened to retaliate for any new drills.