Update
North Korea fires 200 grenades
South Korea orders evacuation of two islands
January 5, 2024, 7:20 a.m
The South Korean Defense Ministry reports numerous grenade shots off North Korea’s west coast. The residents of two islands that lie just before the North Korean border must therefore seek safety. Pyongyang had previously announced that it would ramp up its weapons production.
North Korea fired more than 200 shells near two South Korean islands, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry. Residents of the islands were urged to seek safety, local officials said. Seoul called the artillery fire a “provocative act that endangers peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
The North Korean military fired more than 200 shots in the areas of Jangsan-got in the northern part of Baengnyeong and the northern areas of Yeonpyeong Island, a South Korean Defense Ministry official said. North Korea must “immediately stop these actions,” the ministry said in a statement, warning it would respond with “appropriate” measures. 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.
Initially, Yeonpyeong Island officials said residents had been urged to seek safety. It is a “preventive measure”. The island is located twelve kilometers south of the North Korean coast. Shortly afterward, a Baengnyeong Island official said the evacuation would be “announced at this moment.” He had been informed that the South Korean army would soon be holding a naval exercise.
Yeonpyeong 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
Relations between North and South Korea are currently at a low point. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wants to expand weapons development, including tactical nuclear weapons. In response, South Korea and the United States have increased defense cooperation and held joint military exercises. 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.
Meanwhile, North Korean state media reported that ruler Kim had called for an expansion of the production of rocket launchers 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.