TOKYO: North Korea has responded to reports that it fired artillery shells toward two South Korean islands and blamed the South for raising tensions between the Korean rivals.

A report from the General Staff Department of the Korean People’s Army said the firing was just a training exercise.

“In accordance with the ratification of the General Staff Department of the Korean People’s Army, the Southwest Coast Defense Unit and Division of the 4th Corps of the Korean People’s Army mobilized 13 companies and 47 guns from 9 to 11 o’clock on January 5 and fired 192 shells into thesea in a training exercise.”

“The claim of the military thugs of the Republic of Korea that our army fired at the northern waters around Baengnyeong Island and Yeonpyeong Island is aimed at misleading public opinion. The direction of our live ammunition shooting into the sea did not have an impact on Baengnyeong Island and Yeonpyeong Island.”

“The military mobsters of the Republic of Korea should stop their trivial acts and take responsibility for the intensification of the situation.”

The North added that if “the enemy forces” take provocative actions, “our army will show an unprecedented level of strong response.”