According to South Korea, North Korea responded to the annual South Korean military exercises by firing artillery shells late Tuesday evening (local time). At around 10 p.m. (local time), the north fired about 100 grenades into the sea off its west coast and another 150 shells off its east coast, the South Korean chiefs of staff said on Wednesday. North Korea confirmed this a little later. The shots are a “serious warning” to South Korea, according to a statement released by the state news agency KCNA. Followed by: “The enemies should immediately cease the reckless and inciting provocations that are escalating military tensions.” South Korea’s defense exercises are to continue as planned until Saturday.
Tensions between the two states have escalated as the North has conducted several missile tests in recent weeks, artillery drills and the deployment of warplanes near the border. The North, on the other hand, accused the South Korean military of escalating tensions through military exercises with allies such as the United States and artillery shelling.