Panic as North Korean missiles explodes on South Korean Island

SEOUL, South Korea — North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire on Tuesday after dozens of shells fired from the North struck a South Korean island near the countries’ disputed western sea border, South Korean military officials said. Express: North Korea says South Korea fired first in Tuesday's clash.

The South Korean military immediately went to “crisis status,” said a Defense Ministry official. There were widespread media reports that Seoul had scrambled F-16 fighter jets but the official declined to confirm whether the planes were in the air.

The South Korean broadcaster YTN reported that one marine had been killed and three others seriously wounded in the shelling on the island, in addition to two civilian casualties. TV footage showed large plumes of black smoke spiraling from the island.

South Korean artillery units returned fire after the North’s shells struck South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island at 2:34 p.m., said Kiyheon Kwon, an official at the Defense Ministry . The North also fired numerous rounds into the Yellow Sea, he said.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said he was trying to prevent the clash from escalating into a greater conflict, Reuters reported, quoting the Yonhap news agency. YTN television reported that Seoul had warned of a stronger response if the North continued with provocations.

China expressed concern, Reuters reported, quoting a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hong Lei, as telling a news conference that both sides of the Korean peninsula should “do more to contribute to peace.”

He said it was imperative to return to six-party talks aimed at ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, Reuters said.

A Russian Foreign Ministry official, who was not identified by name, urged calm. “It is important that this not escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula,” he told the Interfax news agency.

The shelling came just days after an American nuclear scientist who visited North Korea earlier this month said he had been shown a vast new facility built secretly and rapidly to enrich uranium. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/24/world/asia/24korea.html?_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimes

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites