North Korea Fires Over 200 Shells
The situation on the Korean peninsula is escalating as South Korea reports around 200 artillery shells fired by North Korea near the maritime border. Island residents have been urged to seek shelter.
According to South Korea, North Korea’s military has fired over 200 artillery shells near the disputed maritime border between the two enemy states. The shells fell into the Yellow Sea north of the border line, as announced by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff. The shells did not cause any damage.
South Korea has described the artillery fire as a “provocative act that threatens peace on the Korean peninsula.” The Defense Ministry issued a statement demanding that North Korea “immediately cease these actions” and warned that it would respond with “appropriate” measures. Appeals to island residents
Representatives from the border island of Yeonpyeong informed AFP news agency that residents had been instructed to seek shelter. They referred to this as a “preemptive measure.” The island is located twelve kilometers south of the northern Korean coast. It was the target of a North Korean artillery attack in 2010, which resulted in the death of four people.
An official from the island of Baengnyeong stated that the evacuation would be “announced at any moment.” He had been informed that the South Korean military would soon conduct a naval exercise. Kim speaks of a “show of force”
North Korean state media had earlier reported that leader Kim Jong Un had called for an expansion of rocket launcher production during a visit to a factory, in preparation for a “military show of force” with South Korea and the United States.
Tensions are currently intensifying on the peninsula. According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the South Korean and US forces also commenced an artillery exercise near the border with North Korea on Thursday.
The area around the maritime border has been the scene of repeated clashes between warships from both countries in the past. North Korea does not recognize the so-called Northern Limit Line (NLL). This border line was unilaterally drawn by a UN command after the Korean War (1950-53) to prevent hostilities between both sides.