Explorer

South Korea Orders Evacuation After North Fires Artillery Barrage Near Border

In a news briefing, South Korea's military said the firing by North Korea caused no civilian or military damage in the South.

North Korea on Friday fired over 200 artillery rounds into the sea near a tense maritime border with South Korea, forcing the latter to order evacuation near the island, a military official said quoted Reuters. The residents of two South Korean islands have been directed to seek shelter due to an unspecified "situation."

According to Reuters, a text message that was sent to residents and confirmed by an island official cited "naval fire" to be conducted by South Korean troops from 3 p.m.(0600 GMT) Friday.

The defence ministry has not confirmed if the order was prompted by the North's artillery firing or South Korean drills in response.

Meanwhile, an official on Yeonpyeong Island said the evacuation was ordered for residents to move into shelters on the island at the request of the South Korean military. 

In a news briefing, Reuters reported, that South Korea's military said the firing by North Korea caused no civilian or military damage in the South.

"This is an act of provocation that escalates tension and threatens peace on the Korean peninsula," a spokesman for the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said, quoted Reuters.

The shells have all landed on the northern side of a disputed maritime border, spokesman Lee Sung-joon said, quoted Reuters. He further added that the South Korean military has been monitoring the North's moves along its shores with the cooperation of the US military. He warned that South Korea will take "corresponding measures" in response to the North's actions.

Yeonpyeong is an Island home to nearly over 2,000 residents and troops stationed there. As per Reuters, it is located about 120 km (75 miles) west of Seoul and is accessed by ferries taking over two-and-a-half hours.
 
The waters near the disputed NLL have been a site of contention leading to several deadly clashes between North and South Korea including confrontations involving warships and the sinking of a South Korean navy corvette early in 2010 by, as is believed, a North Korean torpedo.
View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Bird Strike Or Fog: What Led To Kazakhstan Plane Crash That Killed At Least 30
Bird Strike Or Fog: What Led To Kazakhstan Plane Crash That Killed At Least 30
Renowned Malayalam Writer MT Vasudevan Nair Dies At 91, Kerala Govt Announces 2-Day Mourning
Renowned Malayalam Writer MT Vasudevan Nair Dies At 91, Kerala Govt Announces 2-Day Mourning
Christmas Spirit Grips India As Devotees Throng Churches To Celebrate With Religious Fervour — PICS
Christmas Spirit Grips India As Devotees Throng Churches To Celebrate With Religious Fervour — PICS
ABP News Checks AAP's Claim Of 'Cash-For-Vote Scam' Against BJP, Revelations Will Shock You. VIDEO
ABP News Checks AAP's Claim Of 'Cash-For-Vote Scam' Against BJP, Revelations Will Shock You. VIDEO
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Anya Polytech IPO: Must Watch Exclusive Interview Before Investing | Paisa LiveWhy Payas Pandit Struggled to Gain Recognition Despite Her Bhojpuri Debut with Pawan Singh?Sambhal News: ASI Team to Inspect Stepwell Today, Exclusive Pictures from the SiteBJP Accuses AAP of Deceiving Public with New Schemes Ahead of Delhi Elections

Photo Gallery

Embed widget