Last night North Korea opened artillery fire on a South Korean island. As of writing this, at least 2 South Korean soldiers have died and several South Korean civilians were injured.
A spokesman for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korean shells had started falling in the waters off the island of Yeonpyeong at 1434 (0534 GMT).
At least 50 landed directly on the island, most hitting a South Korean military base there.
The South’s military immediately fired back some 80 shells in self-defence, Col Lee Bung-woo added.
A resident on the island told the AFP news agency that dozens of houses were damaged by the barrage, while television pictures showed plumes of smoke rising above the island.
This is not the first provocation by North Korea. Earlier this year North Korea sank a South Korean war ship. Just last week North Korea announced a second Uranium enrichment facility as well. North Korea avoided sanctions in the first incident because of China. Will China continue to allow North Korea to act against its neighbors?