North Korea fired over 200 artillery rounds into the sea near the heavily guarded maritime border with South Korea, according to military sources reported by Reuters, today (05). Simultaneously, South Korean security forces ordered the evacuation of residents on two South Korean islands due to an unspecified “situation.”
The South Korean Defense Ministry did not confirm whether the evacuation was related to North Korean artillery fire or to military exercises initiated by South Korean forces in response to the artillery fire. Residents received text messages indicating a “naval firing exercise” by South Korean forces, but it was unclear whether it was a drill or for another reason.
While the South Korean military confirmed no damage from North Korea’s firing, they characterized it as a provocative act escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. In 2010, North Korea launched a major attack, and tensions have remained high along the border since.
