1 of 1 South Korean speaker speaks after North Korean shooting on January 5, 2024 Photo: Portal South Korean speaker speaks after North Korean shooting on January 5, 2024 2024 Photo: Portal
South Korea has issued a warning ordering residents of two islands sought protection after an “obvious provocation” of North Korea. The warning was communicated this Friday (5) by the state news agency Yonhap.
The South Korean military said North Korea fired more than 200 projectiles that landed in waters north of the northern boundary line that marks the maritime boundary between the two Koreas.
The emergency warnings were aimed at Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong islands, which are close to the demarcated line.
At around 12:00 and 12:30 local time (12:00 and 12:30 in Brasília), two emergency orders were issued to the population of Yeonpyeong.
“We announced the evacuation after receiving a call from a military unit saying it was conducting a sea attack on Yeongpyeong Island due to a North Korean provocation situation,” an official told Yonhap.
South Korea said Friday's shooting increased tensions in the region. North Korea had not commented as of this report's last update.
“This is an act of provocation that increases tensions and endangers peace on the Korean peninsula,” a spokesman for the South Korean armed forces said.
In 2014, the two Koreas engaged in artillery shelling at sea after North Korean projectiles struck South Korean waters. At that time, residents of the island were taken to emergency shelters.