NORTH Korea shells southern island, one fatality reported

[Bert Bakker]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

Altijd agressief, die communisten...



2010/11/23 Antid Oto <aorta at home.nl>

> REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl
>
> http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2928750
>
> North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells into Yeonpyeong Island and
> the
> South Korean Navy directly returned fire after 2:34 p.m. today.
>
> The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that multiple buildings on
> the
> island were destroyed by North Korean shells. They put five islands in the
> area
> of the attack on highest military alert.
>
> One fatality, a South Korean marine, was confirmed by the military, and 13
> soldiers were wounded on the island and four civilians. Soldiers and
> civilians
> were brought to hospitals.
> South Korea started returning fire at 3:42 p.m. and fired around 80 rounds.
> Around 4:42, shots were reported to die down from both sides, according to
> the
> South Korean military. South Korea dispatched F-16 fighter jets to the
> area.
>
> Residents of the island started evacuating.
>
> President Lee Myung-bak was quoted by his spokeswoman as saying: "Respond
> firmly, but make the best efforts not to worsen the situation."
>
> The South Korea military also reported "unusual movements" of military
> equipment
> on the North Korean coast near South Korea's Baekryeong Island.
>
> An annual nationwide military drill, called the Hoguk exercise, which
> include
> U.S. forces, began yesterday. A thousand Korean Navy sailors are posted on
> Yeonpyeong Island. North Korea has described the annual drill as a dress
> rehearsal for an invasion of the North.
>
> South Korean military officials said that most shells hit a military base
> on the
> island.
>
> The United States Forces Korea reported there were no American soldiers on
> the
> island. The U.S. embassy in Seoul refused to comment, and said any
> statement
> would probably come out of Washington.
>
> The clashes took place 11 days after North Korea showed a visiting American
> nuclear scientist centrifuges that it said were being used to enrich
> uranium,
> which can be used in nuclear weapons.
>
> South Korean government officials were called to an emergency meeting with
> President Lee at an underground bunker beneath the presidential compound.
>
> One islander said that most of the citizens on the island were on fishing
> boats
> when the attack occurred, as the majority of the islanders are fishermen,
> saying
> that this was the first time that shells had fallen on the island.
>
> China expressed concern, Reuters reported, quoting a foreign ministry
> spokesman,
> telling a news conference that both sides of the Korean Peninsula should
> "do
> more to contribute to peace."
>
> Al Jazeera news reported the Chinese spokesman as saying: "We have taken
> note of
> the relevant report and we express concern over the situation."
>
> According to Kyodo News, Japan set up an information coordination office
> after
> the attacks.
>
> Naval clashes have occurred near the disputed maritime border on the West
> Coast,
> with the last conflict happening a year ago which left a North Korean
> patrol
> boat badly damaged with one known casualty on the North Korean side.
> According to Reuters, stocks in Hong Kong posted the biggest single day
> percentage lost in six months because of the attack.
>
> By Christine Kim [christine.kim at joongang.co.kr]
>
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