joohee cho is joining us in seoul with the very latest. . >> reporter: good morning. rob and vinita. tensions are high on the border, but politicians and citizens are divided over whether these routine exercises are necessary at this point in time. south korean military having conducted these drills every month for the past 37 years. it says the live-fire drills are defensive in nature. at the center of this dispute is this maritime border. south korea recognizes a northern boundary and thousands of south koreans reside in these small islands. north korea says the border is just to the south of the islands. in fear, residents of the island, victims of last month's attack on the north, are inside underground shelters waiting and earlier they've been given gas masks just in case. naval ships and missile capabilities and fighter jets are on standby in case the conflict escalates. they hope both sides back down. they rallied outside the south korean defense ministry just before the drills. the drills have ended now the question is will north korea stick to its rhetoric vo