Marines target Korea's leaders

South Korean marines are using photographs of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's son and heir-apparent as target practice during firing drills.

The defence ministry said the marines introduced the training strategy to new recruits in the wake of the North's shelling of a front-line island in November.

Two marines and two civilians were killed during the attack on Yeonpyeong Island.

Ministry officials say a front-line army division also used photos of the two Kims and Kim il-sung - leader Kim's father - as firing targets last week.

The Koreas officially remain in state of war because their 1950-53 conflict ended with an armistice.