South Korea conducted live-fire military drills near its disputed sea boundary with North Korea on yesterday despite Pyongyang’s threat to respond with a “merciless” attack — a threat it did not immediately make good on.

Analysts said North Korea was unlikely to respond with more than words because it is focusing on internal stability two months after the death of leader Kim Jong Il. North Korea is also days away from its first nuclear disarmament talks with the US since Kim’s death.