Just two days after South Korea conducted a live-fire exercise near a tense border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, its military announced it will hold a three-day drill in waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea also plans to stage another major drill in Pocheon. Officials say both are routine exercises.

Only two days after South Korea conducted the live-fire exercise that almost pushed tension on the Korean Peninsula to its extreme, On Wednesday, its military began its annual naval exercise off its east coast.

Compared to the disputed western sea border, the east coast is less-tense.

The plan is to have navy ships fire artillery shells and conduct anti-submarine exercises.

Kim Kwan-Jin, S. Korean Defense Minister, said, "We will make the greatest efforts to create a strong military-like armed forces that can assure victory over all enemies."

In a similar but separate move, South Korea also plans to stage its biggest-ever wintertime joint exercise between the army and the air force. That will take place Thursday.

The military says the drill will take place in Pocheon which is 25 kilometers south of the heavily fortified land border with its northern neighbor, and is aimed at testing the South's fire power.

Thursday's drill will include hundreds of troops, fighter jets, tanks and attacks helicopters.

After South Korea conducted its live-fire exercise Monday in the disputed western sea border, the DPRK made conciliatory gestures. It told a visiting US governor, Bill Richardson, that it would allow international nuclear inspections of its atomic programs.

As the tension on the Korean Peninsula eased slightly, Seoul's stock market responded positively. Seoul shares soared Wednesday and its derivatives market ended higher as well.

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