North Korea on Tuesday fired artillery into the sea near its tense western sea border with South Korea, injuring at least 14 South Korean miltary personnel and two civilians, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Four of the military personnel were seriously injured, Yonhap said.
At least 200 rounds of artillery hit an inhabited South Korean island after the North started firing about 2:30 p.m. local time, Yonhap said.
South Korea's military responded with 80 rounds of artillery and deployed fighter jets to counter the fire, the report said.
The South Korean army also raised its alert condition, the report said.
www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/23/nkorea.skorea.military.fire/?hpt=T1South Korea's YTN television said that several houses were on fire and that shells were still falling on the island. The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) reported that at least several people had been killed in the attack
-KIM KEUN-SIK, PROFESSOR, KYUNGNAM UNIVERSITY
"This seems to be a highest-level military provocation. On one hand, North Korea has a uranium enrichment card to bring the United States to the negotiation table. On the other hand, by raising tensions in the West Sea, North Korean wants to threaten South Korea.
"I don't think, (the reason for the artillery shelling) is a simple protest against the South Korean military drill. It must have been beyond that."
-CHUNG SEUNG-JAE, MARKET ANALYST, MIRAE ASSET SECURITIES
"The news came at a time when market sentiment was already weakened by European debt and Chinese tightening concerns. And combined, stock market will do poorly tomorrow. Artillery firing on residential area was unlike its other acts of aggression. And this is alarming."
-LEE DONG-BOK, SENIOR ASSOCIATE AT CSIS
"North Korea's shelling is probably related to its recent revealing of its uranium enrichment program. It is likely that they are making a strong attempt to shake the U.S. and South Korea so that they will make some concessions."
UPDATE: At least one South Korean marine reportedly was killed. President Lee Myung-bak ordered officials to make sure that the firing wouldn't escalate, according to Yonhap, quoting a presidential official. YTN said between 1,200 and 1,300 people live on the island, citing an island resident.
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hsTlihk0EpAU1vXyMn56ahpcY0NQ?docId=14d374c4d29149149802735827cdda1b "The whole neighborhood is on fire," said Na Young-ok, a 46-year-old woman who has lived on the island for 20 years. She was at a bomb shelter when reached by The Wall Street Journal. "I think countless houses are on fire, but no fire truck is coming. We have a fire station but the shots are intermittently coming."
Ms. Na said a military base on the island was on fire. She said she was with about 50 people in the shelter and her child was in a similar shelter at the school on the island. She didn't know whether people were injured. online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703904804575631763523837910.html
Gerry Davies reports that there’s a rumor about the death of North Korean leader Kim Jung Il. This could explain why North Korea attacked South Korea with shells, killing a few people. Kim Jung Il’s heir might want to show that the North is still strong and that there’s a new guy in town by initiating this severe border clash.
www.forexcrunch.com/rumor-kim-jung-il-died-can-explain-north-korean-attack/UPDATE: North Korea fired artillery toward its tense western sea border with South Korea on Tuesday, killing at least one South Korean soldier, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Two civilians and 13 other South Korean military personnel were injured, with three of the soldiers seriously hurt, Yonhap said.
A Ministry of Defense spokesman contradicted the Yonhap report, saying that no deaths had been confirmed and that the military was checking on possible civilian casualties. edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/11/23/nkorea.skorea.military.fire/?hpt=T1 (VIDEO)