The South Korean Navy's 3,200-ton Eulji Mundeok destroyer, first from right, and other vessels engage in live-fire drills in the Yellow Sea as part of the armed service's first exercise of the year, Jan. 4. Yonhap

South Korea's Navy conducted its first live-fire drills of the year earlier this week, officials said Thursday, in a major display of naval might against evolving North Korean threats.

Designed to check the Navy's combat readiness, the annual drills took place in waters off the country's eastern, western and southern coasts on Wednesday, involving flagship warships and personnel from the Navy's 1st, 2nd and 3rd Fleets.

"We will build a firm readiness posture, with which we can sternly punish any enemy provocations," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lee Jong-ho was quoted as saying as he oversaw the drills aboard the P-3C patrol aircraft.

For the "high-intensity" drills, the Navy mobilized 13 vessels, including the 3,200-ton Eulji Mundeok destroyer, and four aircraft, with a focus on enhancing each fleet's mission capabilities to safeguard their areas of maritime operations.