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DPRK, ROK trade fire; at least 2 soldiers killed
Source: Xinhua |
November 23, 2010, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
Some shells landed on South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island where some 600 households live, at least two South Korean marines were killed, and 16 soldiers injured.
According to South Korean military officials, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired scores of artillery onto the island and into waters off the west coast of the divided peninsula, prompting a return fire.
Calling the DPRK's artillery firing "unacceptable", South Korea vowed to "punish" its former wartime rival in case of further provocation.
The South Korean military authorities called the artillery firing an "intentional" and "inhumane" attack.
However, a defense official of DPRK told Xinhua reporters today in Pyongyang in an interview through telephone that he knew nothing about the firing.
According officials of South Korea, the military of South Korea is now put on a heightened alert. It is also reportedly the military deployed fighter jets to the Yellow Sea in deterrence against further provocation from the North.
The clash came at a time when South Korea is engaged in massive annual military exercises involving some 70,000 troops, launched yesterday and scheduled to last through November 30.
It also came shortly after Pyongyang's disclosure of a new and sophisticated facility to enrich uranium, which sparked new concerns here over potential nuclear threats.
The authorities in Seoul are now trying to determine Pyongyang's motive behind the sudden provocation.
Some interpret the firing as a show of protest by Pyongyang against the ongoing annual military exercises involving some 70, 000 troops.
Prior to the shelling, the DPRK sent a message to the South denouncing the drills for potentially targeting it.
According to South Korean military officials, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea fired scores of artillery onto the island and into waters off the west coast of the divided peninsula, prompting a return fire.
Calling the DPRK's artillery firing "unacceptable", South Korea vowed to "punish" its former wartime rival in case of further provocation.
The South Korean military authorities called the artillery firing an "intentional" and "inhumane" attack.
However, a defense official of DPRK told Xinhua reporters today in Pyongyang in an interview through telephone that he knew nothing about the firing.
According officials of South Korea, the military of South Korea is now put on a heightened alert. It is also reportedly the military deployed fighter jets to the Yellow Sea in deterrence against further provocation from the North.
The clash came at a time when South Korea is engaged in massive annual military exercises involving some 70,000 troops, launched yesterday and scheduled to last through November 30.
It also came shortly after Pyongyang's disclosure of a new and sophisticated facility to enrich uranium, which sparked new concerns here over potential nuclear threats.
The authorities in Seoul are now trying to determine Pyongyang's motive behind the sudden provocation.
Some interpret the firing as a show of protest by Pyongyang against the ongoing annual military exercises involving some 70, 000 troops.
Prior to the shelling, the DPRK sent a message to the South denouncing the drills for potentially targeting it.
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