North Korea Fires Over 200 Shells Along Maritime Border with South Korea; Residents Evacuated

North Korea has fired more than 200 artillery shells near the border with South Korea, prompting the evacuation of residents on two South Korean islands. This was reported by the Yonhap news agency, citing South Korean military officials.

The shells landed in the Yellow Sea, within the area of the so-called Northern Limit Line, which is the de facto border between the two countries. “From 09:00 to 11:00 today, North Korean military personnel fired more than 200 rounds in the Chunsan-Got area, in the northern part of Baengnyeong Island and the northern regions of Yeonpyeong Island. This is a provocative act that threatens the peace of the Korean Peninsula. North Korea bears full responsibility for this escalation of the crisis, and we call on them to immediately cease these actions,” stated a South Korean defense ministry announcement.