The military of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Friday conducted a live-fire exercise off the western coast, the country's Defense Ministry said.

The ministry said the drills were "corresponding measures" in response to the action of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which fired more than 200 artillery rounds into the sea on Friday near a tense maritime border.

The marine forces in the western border islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong launched the drill from 3:00 p.m. local time (0600 GMT), according to the ROK Defense Ministry.

The DPRK said its firing drills off the west coast on Friday were a natural response to large-scale military actions by the ROK military "gangster," according to KCNA's report.

Pyongyang's drills did "not even have any indirect impact on Baengnyeong Island and Yeonpyeong Island," KCNA said.

Earlier on Friday, evacuation orders were issued for residents in the ROK islands, Yonhap news agency reported.

The orders were issued at 12:02 a.m. local time (0302 GMT) and 12:30 a.m. to evacuate residents on the island. The island office sent out evacuation broadcasts at the request of a military unit, according to the report.

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(With input from agencies)

(Cover: File photo of the building of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Republic of Korea, Seoul, ROK. /CFP)