(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />South Korean marines took part in a military drill on Wednesday (March 13) near the demilitarised zone dividing the Korean peninsula amid rising tensions over North Korea's threats.<br/> <br />In Paju, the border area, South Korean soldiers were conducting a regular military exercise with about 30 tanks, a drill separate from the joint drills currently underway with U.S. troops.<br/> <br />South Korea and U.S. forces are conducting large-scale joint military drills until the end of April, while the North is also gearing up for a state-wide military exercise.<br/> <br />North Korea has accused the United States of using the joint military drills in South Korea as a launch pad for a nuclear war and has threatened to scrap the armistice with Washington that ended hostilities in the 1950-53 Korean War.<br/> <br />On Monday (March 11) North Korea cut off a Red Cross hotline with the South as its war of words escalated against Seoul and Washington.<br/> <br />Tensions o
