North Korea fires 200 shells offshore, residents of two South Korean islands ordered to evacuate

An escalation of tensions. South Korea ordered the evacuation of residents from the islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong located near North Korea on Friday, January 5, after the latter fired around 200 artillery shells off its west coast.

Residents of these two South Korean border islands, located in the Yellow Sea, have been asked to evacuate, according to local officials. Ferries connecting these islands, located very close to the North Korean coast, to the rest of South Korea have been suspended. In the wake of Pyongyang’s artillery barrage, South Korea denounced “act of provocation”urging his neighbor to put an end to it and warning that he will respond with measures “appropriate”. The ministry clarified that the shots caused no casualties or damage.

“Our army is closely following and monitoring the situation”

“We strongly warn that North Korea bears full responsibility for this escalation of the crisis and we urge it to immediately cease these actions”wrote the South Korean Ministry of Defense in a statement. “Our army is closely monitoring and monitoring the situation in close coordination with the United States”he added. Hours later, Seoul conducted a live ammunition exercise in Yeonpyeong using K9 self-propelled howitzers.

China, an ally of North Korea, called “all parties calm and restrained”. This military escalation is one of the most serious on the peninsula since 2010, when the North bombed Yeonpyeong. It comes after a burst of bellicose statements from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who in recent days notably threatened to“annihilate” South Korea and the United States.