SEOUL - The Republic of Korea and the United States will hold their largest-ever live-fire drill later this week amid lingering tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap news agency reported Monday.

The joint exercise, scheduled for Friday in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, will involve about 2,000 troops, F-15K fighter planes, Apache attack helicopters and tanks, it said.

The one-day drill, which will be presided over by Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, aims to ensure solid military preparedness and war-fighting capabilities.

It will see the participation of an airborne early warning and control aircraft called "Peace Eye" and T/A-50 light attack aircraft for the first time, according to Yonhap.  The drill comes amid persistent tensions on the peninsula, following a failed long- range rocket launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.