South Korean Naval and Marine forces are to hold two days of joint war games from 7 January to simulate an infiltration by North Korean troops across the tense Yellow Sea border.

The computer-simulated manoeuvres have been designed for the first time to enhance South Korea’s capability to fight a surprise landing on islands near the disputed sea border.

South Korea has been staging a series of military exercises since the artillery attack by North Korea on 23 November 2010.

The country has also deployed extra anti-submarine patrol aircraft to boost its defences along the sea border and to guard against potential attack by North Korea, according to Agence France Presse.