North Korea escalated tensions with South Korea by firing over 200 artillery shells into the sea near a tense maritime border on Friday. This aggressive move led to the evacuation of residents from Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong, two remote South Korean islands, to bomb shelters on the orders of Seoul’s military. South Korea responded with live fire drills, launching live rounds towards the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL).
This exchange of artillery fire did not result in any civilian or military damage in South Korea, as confirmed by South Korean military spokesperson Lee Sung-joon. South Korea’s Defence Minister, Shin Won-sik, condemned North Korea’s actions as a provocation that escalates tension and threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean military closely monitored the situation in coordination with the United States, with Marine brigades on the islands demonstrating a strong operational response involving mechanized artillery and tanks.
Residents of two remote South Korean islands on the western maritime frontier were evacuated to bomb shelters before South Korea’s military fired live rounds towards the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL) border. PHOTO: AFP
China, North Korea’s main ally, called for restraint and encouraged dialogue between the two sides. The situation is further complicated by North Korea’s recent warnings that tensions on the peninsula are escalating towards war due to actions by the U.S. and South Korean militaries. These incidents come in the wake of North Korea declaring a 2018 agreement aimed at de-escalating tensions as invalid, following South Korea’s announcement of resuming drills near the border.
The NLL, established at the end of the Korean War, has been a historical point of contention, with North Korea disputing the line since the 1990s. Previous incidents, including the artillery attack on Yeonpyeong in 2010, have caused casualties and heightened tensions in the region.
