Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Um Hyun-seong visited a Marine unit on Yeonpyeong Island and a guard unit on Udo Island Tuesday.

He ordered maritime forces to closely watch the enemy’s movements and sternly punish any provocation.

On Monday, Defense Minister Han Min-koo also visited the headquarters of the Marine Corps in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province to inspect combat readiness of northwestern border islands.

A Marine maneuver unit in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province was dispatched last week to the five northwestern border islands last week to conduct a military exercise.