SOUL, April 29 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had notified South Korea that it would conduct a live- fire drill near the western maritime border on Tuesday, Yonhap quoted the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) as reporting.

The Southwestern Command of the Korean People's Army sent a fax to the South Korean Navy's Second Fleet in the morning, notifying the fire drill, Yonhap said.

The South Korean military has stepped up its guard against possible clashes, Yonhap said, quoting the JCS.

The DPRK carried out the similar drills on March 31 near the same region.