The Republic of Korea (ROK) fired artillery in a 90-minute drill from a disputed island Monday and launched fighter jets to deter attacks after the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) warned of catastrophic retaliation for the maneuvers.

There was no sign of any DPRK military response during the drill, a ROK Defense Ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing office rules. The ROK had evacuated hundreds of residents near its tense land border and sent residents of islands near disputed waters into underground bunkers amid soaring fears of war.

The live-fire exercises came nearly a month after the DPRK responded to earlier maneuvers by shelling Yeonpyeong island, killing two marines and two civilian. It had said it would respond even more harshly to any new drills from the Yellow Sea island.

UN diplomats meeting in New York failed to find any solution to ease fears of renewed warfare on the Korean peninsula.

Hours later, Seoul's Defense Ministry said the drills were under way on Yeonpyeong, waters around which was claimed territory by the DPRK.

Similar drills on Nov. 23 sparked the DPRK's artillery barrage, after what it says were clear warnings to the ROK to halt the firing. The DPRK warned of a "catastrophe" if the ROK went ahead with new drills.

The ROK's military said ahead of Monday's planned drills that it would "immediately and sternly" deal with any provocation by the DPRK. Fighter jets flew over the ROK airspace on a mission to deter DPRK attacks, a Defense Ministry official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.

Residents, local officials and journalists on Yeonpyeong and four other islands were ordered to evacuate to underground shelters because of possible attacks by the DPRK, Ongjin County government spokesman Won Ji-young said.

The Defense Ministry said the artillery drills involved several types of weapons, including K-9 self-propelled guns, ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters, according to his office.

Ahead of the drills, the ROK President Lee Myung-bak on Monday asked all South Koreans to be more united and vigilant about the DPRK

"The highest-level of national security comes from unity among the people," Lee said in a previously scheduled meeting with home affairs officials, according to Lee's office. The DPRK provokes the ROK when "our public opinion is divided," Lee said.

The UN Security Council failed Sunday to agree on a statement to address rising tensions on the Korean peninsula.

After eight hours of closed-door consultations Sunday, Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who called the emergency council meeting, told reporters "we were not successful in bridging all the bridges."

Although some countries still need to consult capitals, US Ambassador Susan Rice said "the gaps that remain are unlikely to be bridged."

The Republic of Korea (ROK) fired artillery in a 90-minute drill from a disputed island Monday and launched fighter jets to deter attacks after the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) warned of catastrophic retaliation for the maneuvers.

There was no sign of any DPRK military response during the drill, a ROK Defense Ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing office rules. The ROK had evacuated hundreds of residents near its tense land border and sent residents of islands near disputed waters into underground bunkers amid soaring fears of war.

The live-fire exercises came nearly a month after the DPRK responded to earlier maneuvers by shelling Yeonpyeong island, killing two marines and two civilian. It had said it would respond even more harshly to any new drills from the Yellow Sea island.

UN diplomats meeting in New York failed to find any solution to ease fears of renewed warfare on the Korean peninsula.

Hours later, Seoul's Defense Ministry said the drills were under way on Yeonpyeong, waters around which was claimed territory by the DPRK.

Similar drills on Nov. 23 sparked the DPRK's artillery barrage, after what it says were clear warnings to the ROK to halt the firing. The DPRK warned of a "catastrophe" if the ROK went ahead with new drills.

The ROK's military said ahead of Monday's planned drills that it would "immediately and sternly" deal with any provocation by the DPRK. Fighter jets flew over the ROK airspace on a mission to deter DPRK attacks, a Defense Ministry official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity, citing department rules.

Residents, local officials and journalists on Yeonpyeong and four other islands were ordered to evacuate to underground shelters because of possible attacks by the DPRK, Ongjin County government spokesman Won Ji-young said.

The Defense Ministry said the artillery drills involved several types of weapons, including K-9 self-propelled guns, ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters, according to his office.

Ahead of the drills, the ROK President Lee Myung-bak on Monday asked all South Koreans to be more united and vigilant about the DPRK

Related readings:  ROK wraps up live-fire drill   ROK marines prepare for firing drill   Diplomacy goes on for DPRK-ROK tensions

"The highest-level of national security comes from unity among the people," Lee said in a previously scheduled meeting with home affairs officials, according to Lee's office. The DPRK provokes the ROK when "our public opinion is divided," Lee said.

The UN Security Council failed Sunday to agree on a statement to address rising tensions on the Korean peninsula.

After eight hours of closed-door consultations Sunday, Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who called the emergency council meeting, told reporters "we were not successful in bridging all the bridges."

Although some countries still need to consult capitals, US Ambassador Susan Rice said "the gaps that remain are unlikely to be bridged."