North Korea fires 200 grenades: South Korea orders evacuation from island

North Korea fires 200 grenades
South Korea orders evacuation of island

January 5, 2024, 5:52 a.m

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The South Korean Defense Ministry reports numerous grenade shots off North Korea’s west coast. The residents of an island that lies just before the North Korean border must therefore seek safety. Pyongyang had previously announced that it would ramp up its weapons production.

South Korea has ordered the evacuation of Yeonpyeong Island after North Korea fired numerous shells off its west coast. “Around 200 shots were fired by North Korea (near) Yeonpyeong Island,” a South Korean defense ministry official said at a news conference. Officials on the island, which lies just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from North Korea, said residents had been urged to seek safety. It is a “preventive measure”.

According to the General Staff in South Korea, the projectiles fell into the Yellow Sea north of the maritime boundary line. The grenades caused no damage. The island off the west coast was the target of a North Korean artillery attack in 2010. Four people were killed at that time.

The area around the maritime border has been the scene of repeated battles between warships from both countries in the past. The so-called Northern Limit Line (NLL) is not recognized by North Korea. The border line was drawn unilaterally by a UN command after the Korean War (1950-53) to prevent hostilities between the two sides.

South Korea and USA conduct artillery exercise

Tensions are currently escalating again on the Korean peninsula. According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, the armed forces of South Korea and the United States also began an artillery exercise near the border with North Korea on Thursday.

North Korean state media had previously reported that leader Kim Jong Un had called for an expansion of rocket launcher production during a factory visit – in preparation for a “military showdown” with South Korea and the USA.

Shortly before, the US government announced that North Korea had recently delivered ballistic missiles and rocket launchers to Russia, some of which were used in the recent attacks on Ukraine.