North and South Korea exchange artillery

[key2thecup]

North Korea, South Korea exchange fire over maritime border

Poorly marked sea boundary has been scene of several bloody naval skirmishes in recent years

A man watches a television news program in South Korea reporting about North Korea's plan to conduct live-fire drills. South Korea said North Korea has announced plans to conduct live-fire drills near the rivals' disputed western sea boundary. The writing reads "North, Firing drills in 7 areas western sea." (Lee Jin-man/The Associated Press)

North and South Korea fired hundreds of artillery shells into each other's waters Monday in a flare-up of animosity that forced residents of five front-line South Korean islands to evacuate to shelters for several hours, South Korean officials said.

The exchange of fire into the Yellow Sea followed Pyongyang's sudden announcement that it would conduct live-fire drills in seven areas north of the Koreas' disputed maritime boundary. North Korea routinely test-fires artillery and missiles into the ocean but rarely discloses those plans in advance. The announcement was seen as an expression of Pyongyang's frustration at making little progress in its recent push to win outside aid.

North Korea fired 500 rounds of artillery shells over more than three hours, about 100 of which fell south of the sea boundary, South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said. South Korea responded by firing 300 shells into North Korean waters, he said.

No shells from either side were fired at any land or military installations, but Kim called the North's artillery firing a provocation aimed at testing Seoul's security posture. There was no immediate comment from North Korea.

In Washington, White House spokesman Jonathan Lalley called North Korea's actions "dangerous and provocative" and said they would further aggravate tensions in the region.

Monday's exchange was relatively mild in the history of animosity and violence between the Koreas, but there is worry in Seoul that an increasingly dissatisfied North Korea could repeat the near-daily barrage of war rhetoric it carried out last spring, when tensions soared as Pyongyang threatened nuclear strikes on Washington and Seoul in response to condemnation of its third nuclear test.

Residents on front-line South Korean islands spent several hours in shelters during the firing, and officials temporarily halted ferry service linking the islands to the mainland. Kang Myeong-sung, speaking from a shelter on Yeonpyeong island, which is in sight of North Korean territory, said he didn't hear any fighter jets but heard the boom of artillery fire.

Several skirmishes in recent years

The poorly marked western sea boundary has been the scene of several bloody naval skirmishes between the Koreas in recent years. In March 2010, a South Korean warship sank in the area following a torpedo attack blamed on Pyongyang that left 46 sailors dead. North Korea denies responsibility for the sinking. In November 2010, a North Korean artillery bombardment killed four South Koreans on Yeonpyeong.

The North has gradually dialed down its threats since last year's tirade and has sought improved ties with South Korea in what foreign analysts say is an attempt to lure investment and aid. There has been no major breakthrough, however, with Washington and Seoul calling on the North to first take disarmament steps to prove its sincerity about improving ties.

Recent weeks have seen an increase in threatening rhetoric and a series of North Korean rocket and ballistic missile launches considered acts of protest by Pyongyang against annual ongoing springtime military exercises by Seoul and Washington. The North calls the South Korea-U.S. drills a rehearsal for invasion; the allies say they're routine and defensive.

"The boneheads appear to have completely forgotten the fact that Yeonpyeong island was smashed by our military's bolt of lightning a few years ago," a North Korean military official, Yun Jong Bum, said Monday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

Pyongyang also threatened Sunday to conduct a fourth nuclear test, though Seoul sees no signs it's imminent. Wee Yong-sub, a deputy spokesman at the South Korean Defence Ministry, said the North Korean warning about the live-fire drills Monday was a "hostile" attempt to heighten tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Recent threats are an expression of anger and frustration over what the North sees as little improvement in progress in its ties with South Korea and the U.S., said Lim Eul Chul, a North Korea expert at South Korea's Kyungnam University. Lim said the North might conduct a fourth nuclear test and launch other provocations to try to wrest the outside concessions it wants.

The Korean Peninsula remains in a technical state of war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. About 28,500 American troops are deployed in South Korea to deter potential aggression from North Korea.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/north-korea-south-korea-exchange-fire-over-maritime-border-1.2592320

[MJDDawg]

They didn't really shoot at each other though.

It's just more public relations from Kim Jong Un given the US and South Korea are holding joint military exercises just over the border.

[canucks since 77]

Must be that time of year again when Kim is looking for handouts.

[CB007]

They are the same people. They share the same history up til the Korean war. Why can't they hold referendums and re-unit?

[g_bassi13]

They are the same people. They share the same history up til the Korean war. Why can't they hold referendums and re-unit?

It's incredibly more complicated than that.

[SabreFan1]

They shot around 800 rounds into the water. There must be some seriously scared fish out there.... lol

[Jai604]

Same old posturing.

I feel bad for the fish.

[KoreanHockeyFan]

Just another day at the office.

[MANGO]

typical.....Russian military has exercises next too Ukraine, and that is aggressive behavior.....US ready for war. Two weeks later is doing the same thing right next to the North Korean boarder and that's not aggressive or provocative in any way? The US knows this military exercise would cause tensions and they do it anyways. Who is provoking who here?

[SabreFan1]

typical.....Russian military has exercises next too Ukraine, and that is aggressive behavior.....US ready for war. Two weeks later is doing the same thing right next to the North Korean boarder and that's not aggressive or provocative in any way? The US knows this military exercise would cause tensions and they do it anyways. Who is provoking who here?

The U.S. and South Korea have been doing these exercises for decades now. It's not exactly a state secret. North Korea knows this and they time their "sabre rattling" accordingly.

Like others here have said and/or alluded to, it's yet another attention seeking tantrum from the north. Just like every other time, it will not ever go anywhere.

The news just likes reporting on it because it grabs people's attention and if either side accidentally hits the other then they can make it into a week-long ratings grabbing news extravaganza. Cable news networks live for this kinda stuff.

[CB007]

It's incredibly more complicated than that.

It is but it shouldn't be. It's all US vs Soviet cold war garbage.

Koreans threatening other Koreans over centuries old Euro ideologies. Pure stupidity.

[Offensive Threat]

It is but it shouldn't be. It's all US vs Soviet cold war garbage.

Koreans threatening other Koreans over centuries old Euro ideologies. Pure stupidity.

The US vs Russia thing is old news. When Japan was defeated in WWII they gave up their annexation of Korea that they had held for over 35 years. The US took control of the south half and Russia the north.

South Korea wants reunification under a democratic Gov. North korea wants reunification under Kim Jongs single leader state. Since neither side will ever accept the others requirements for reunification its gonna stay this way until there is either a war or a major political shift in either country. Most likely case would be a coup in N.Korea or the death of Kim Jong un leading to eventual reunification.

[KoreanHockeyFan]

The U.S. and South Korea have been doing these exercises for decades now. It's not exactly a state secret. North Korea knows this and they time their "sabre rattling" accordingly.

Like others here have said and/or alluded to, it's yet another attention seeking tantrum from the north. Just like every other time, it will not ever go anywhere.

The news just likes reporting on it because it grabs people's attention and if either side accidentally hits the other then they can make it into a week-long ratings grabbing news extravaganza. Cable news networks live for this kinda stuff.

Couldn't be any more correct.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qPiT_x9NG4

This is no big deal, just move on. Nothing to see here folks.

[SabreFan1]

Couldn't be any more correct.

*YouTube Video*

This is no big deal, just move on. Nothing to see here folks.

You chose the perfect network as an example. CNN is notorious for this kind of stuff.

[g_bassi13]

It is but it shouldn't be. It's all US vs Soviet cold war garbage.

Koreans threatening other Koreans over centuries old Euro ideologies. Pure stupidity.

Of course the issue was initiated by foreign meddling, but as it stands there are so many obstacles standing in the way of that happening. Certainly not at this point in time.

You say it should be resolved, but what is it that it gets resolved to? The North Korean leadership would love nothing more than to have Korea unite under their totalitarian banner, but what do you think the South Koreans would have to say about that? How do you think the North would feel about loosening their iron grip, and implementing more basic freedoms that would lead to their downfall? That's not even touching on the monumental challenge the South would have to face in trying to integrate the completely backwards country to their north into its own.

It's not so much about simply upholding European ideologies as it is about maintaining power, and/or maintaining prosperity for their people. You'll see a potential reunification when North Korea destabilizes, but not before.

On a personal note though, you say the biggest shame is that the people have divided themselves, but I'm happy for the people of the south that they don't have to face the same atrocities that their brethren to the North do. They may be divided, but at least not all of them are suffering. As it stands, the South can't do anything more than continuing to send aid across the border in the hope that it helps the populace of the North.

[KoreanHockeyFan]

^While the North Korean regime was based on the communist ideology, a lot of their principles trace back to the Chosun dynasty, it's not completely European.

It's almost like a feudal state, Kim Jong Un is only concerned with consolidating his power. Nothing more to it really.

Re-unification is out of the question until some kind of coup erupts in the North.

[theminister]

I have a lovely image of both parties meeting in the DMZ and shaking hands as they exchange gifts wrapped up with bows.

"Here have some of our artillery, Mr Kim!"

"And for you too, Mr Park!"

[g_bassi13]

I have a lovely image of both parties meeting in the DMZ and shaking hands as they exchange gifts wrapped up with bows.

"Here have some of our artillery, Mr Kim!"

"And for you too, Mr Park!"

Well it's Ms. Park, but yeah, that's the image I first had in my head as well. Lol.

[theminister]

Well it's Ms. Park, but yeah, that's the image I first had in my head as well. Lol.

That makes no sense.

What would any self-respecting unmarried young Korean woman be doing exchanging gifts with men in public?

Now… if you had said the widow Park, I'd have to agree.

[CB007]

Of course the issue was initiated by foreign meddling, but as it stands there are so many obstacles standing in the way of that happening. Certainly not at this point in time.

You say it should be resolved, but what is it that it gets resolved to? The North Korean leadership would love nothing more than to have Korea unite under their totalitarian banner, but what do you think the South Koreans would have to say about that? How do you think the North would feel about loosening their iron grip, and implementing more basic freedoms that would lead to their downfall? That's not even touching on the monumental challenge the South would have to face in trying to integrate the completely backwards country to their north into its own.

It's not so much about simply upholding European ideologies as it is about maintaining power, and/or maintaining prosperity for their people. You'll see a potential reunification when North Korea destabilizes, but not before.

On a personal note though, you say the biggest shame is that the people have divided themselves, but I'm happy for the people of the south that they don't have to face the same atrocities that their brethren to the North do. They may be divided, but at least not all of them are suffering. As it stands, the South can't do anything more than continuing to send aid across the border in the hope that it helps the populace of the North.

All of what you are saying are realities. Though if they both sit back and look at the big picture, they will realize how silly they are and at the very least stop acting like they are puppets to foreign powers, whom have very little interest in them beyond buffering themselves from unwanted ideologies.