2024-01-05 10:18:00
Kim Jong-un and his daughter Ju Ae at a North Korean weapons factory this Friday (5) KCNA via REUTERS – 05.01.2024 North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells this Friday (5) near a disputed maritime border with South Korea, in yet another escalation of tension between the rivals and prompting the South to take “corresponding” measures with live-fire exercises. The gunfire prompted residents of two remote South Korean islands on the western maritime border to flee to bomb shelters in accordance with instructions from the South Korean military, before firing live rounds toward the disputed Northern Boundary Line border. (NLL). See also International The number of deaths from earthquake in Japan rises to 92, and the number of missing people reaches 242 International Israel’s Defense Ministry says the country will not govern Gaza after war International Islamic State claims responsibility for attack in Iran, and Tehran promises revenge North Korea’s gunfire caused no civilian or military damage in the South, according to the South Korean military. “This is an act of provocation that increases tension and threatens peace on the Korean peninsula,” said Korea’s defense minister of the South, Shin Won-sik, while supervising the shooting exercises. All North Korean artillery shells landed on the northern side of the sea border, South Korean military spokesman Lee Sung-joon said at a news conference, adding that the South Korean military has been monitoring the North’s movements throughout from its coast with the cooperation of the United States military. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said marine brigades based on Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong islands fired into the sea south of the NLL border, demonstrating an “overwhelming operational response.” The South Korean exercises involved mechanized artillery and tanks. China, which is North Korea’s main political ally, called for moderation and called on the two sides to resume dialogue. Yeonpyeong is home to just over 2,000 residents and troops stationed at the site, about 120km west of Seoul and accessed by ferries that take more than two and a half hours. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha University in Seoul, said it is not uncommon for North Korea to fire artillery into the area during winter exercises. “What’s different this year is that… Kim Jong-un has publicly denied reconciliation and unification with the South,” he declared. In comments at a key party meeting last week, the North Korean leader said unification with the South was not possible and that Pyongyang was fundamentally changing its policy toward the South, which is now seen as an enemy state. The waters near the disputed NLL have been the scene of several deadly clashes between North and South Korea, including battles involving warships and the sinking of a South Korean corvette in 2010 by what is believed to be a North Korean torpedo. , killing 46 sailors.
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