North Korea fires 200 artillery shells near South Korean islands. Residents evacuated amid heightened tensions
The evacuation of Yeonpyeong Island, located near the border with North Korea, was initially reported. However, it was later decided to evacuate Baengnyeong, another island in South Korea.
2:43 AM EST, January 5, 2024
This action was in response to information received about a "possible provocation" from Pyongyang. The islanders were instructed to take shelter.
Over 200 shells were fired from North Korea. Seoul reported no damage caused by the shelling. A spokesperson for the South Korean military underscored in a statement that "this is an act of provocation that escalates tensions and threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula".
Yonhap News Agency reported that the decision to evacuate was made after reports suggested the North Korean military planned to resume exercises using live ammunition on their territory. Consequently, the South Korean authorities decided to take measures to ensure protection.
It's noteworthy that the decision to evacuate wasn't spontaneous. The local authorities acted based on the instructions they received from the South Korean military, which prioritized the well-being of the island's inhabitants and made the decision about their evacuation.
Yeonpyeong Island has a tragic history. It was attacked by North Korean artillery on November 23, 2010, resulting in human casualties, a memory that still weighs heavily on the residents.
Tensions are escalating
On Thursday, US and South Korean troops completed a week-long artillery exercise near the border with North Korea, as reported by the South Korean army command. Pyongyang condemned these exercises, claiming they were thrusting the region "into the hell of a nuclear war".
The exercises, which commenced on December 29, saw the participation of a South Korean mechanized infantry brigade and a US Army armored brigade. Their purpose was to "ensure and increase combat readiness in the face of simulated enemy aggression, " according to a statement released in Seoul.
North Korea branded these exercises as "reckless warring maneuvers". A statement released by the Korean agency KCNA condemned the exercises, accusing them of pushing the region "into the hell of a nuclear war". KCNA also warned that "2024 poses the highest risk of conflict".
