SEOUL – North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells into the sea near its tensely defended maritime border with South Korea on Friday, forcing residents of two South Korean islands to evacuate due to unexplained “circumstances.” Military officials announced the order.
The Defense Ministry did not confirm whether the order was prompted by North Korean artillery fire or South Korean training in response.
However, a text message sent to residents and confirmed by island officials referred to “naval gunfire” by the South Korean military starting at 3pm (6pm Japan time) on Friday.
Officials on Yeonpyeong Island, located just south of the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL) maritime border, said the evacuation was ordered at the request of South Korea's military.
South Korea's military said in a press conference that the North Korean firing caused no civilian or military damage in South Korea.
A spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “This is a provocative act that increases tensions on the Korean Peninsula and threatens peace.''
The official said the South Korean military informed the village that there had been maritime firing by the South Korean military after an “incident” occurred near the border. However, it was not clear whether it was training or there were other causes.
Residents of Baeknyeong Island, located far west of Yeonpyeong Island and close to the sea border, were also told to evacuate, a village official said.
In 2010, North Korean artillery fired dozens of shells into Yeonpyeong Island, killing four people, including two civilians. This was one of the heaviest attacks on a neighboring country since the end of the Korean War in 1953.
North Korea said at the time that South Korea's live-fire training exercise led to shells being dropped into its territorial waters, provoking the attack.
