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North Korea 'shells near South Korea warship' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
North Korea has fired shells into disputed waters near a South Korean warship, South Korean military officials told media. | |
This happened near Yeonpyeong island, on the disputed western maritime border, Yonhap news agency said. | |
On Tuesday, South Korea fired warning shots at three North Korean ships that crossed the maritime border. The North had said it would retaliate. | On Tuesday, South Korea fired warning shots at three North Korean ships that crossed the maritime border. The North had said it would retaliate. |
In 2010, North Korean shelling of Yeonpyeong killed four people. | In 2010, North Korean shelling of Yeonpyeong killed four people. |
The latest incident happened after 18:00 local time (09:00GMT) on Thursday, reports citing South Korean officials said. | |
"The shells fell near our ship which has been on regular patrol in our territory, but it did not cause any damage to our ship," a spokesman from South Korea's defence ministry told the Agence-France Presse news agency. | "The shells fell near our ship which has been on regular patrol in our territory, but it did not cause any damage to our ship," a spokesman from South Korea's defence ministry told the Agence-France Presse news agency. |
According to local news reports, South Korean forces fired several shells into northern waters in response. | |
Local television network YTN reported that residents on Yeonpyeong were being evacuated to bomb shelters. | Local television network YTN reported that residents on Yeonpyeong were being evacuated to bomb shelters. |
Tensions have been rising again between the two neighbours recently, with Pyongyang directing shrill insults at the leaders in Seoul and Washington, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul. | |
The North and South regularly conduct drills near the western sea border, which has long been a flashpoint between the two Koreas. | |
The UN drew the border after the Korean War, but North Korea has never recognised it. | The UN drew the border after the Korean War, but North Korea has never recognised it. |
Since the war ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, the two sides remain technically at war. | |
In March, the two countries traded artillery fire across the border. | In March, the two countries traded artillery fire across the border. |
North Korea killed two civilians and two marines in the 2010 shelling of Yeonpyeong island, which it said was in response to South Korean military exercises. | North Korea killed two civilians and two marines in the 2010 shelling of Yeonpyeong island, which it said was in response to South Korean military exercises. |
Earlier that year, a South Korean warship sank near Baengnyeong island, leaving 46 people dead. Seoul says Pyongyang torpedoed the vessel, but North Korea denies any role in the incident. | Earlier that year, a South Korean warship sank near Baengnyeong island, leaving 46 people dead. Seoul says Pyongyang torpedoed the vessel, but North Korea denies any role in the incident. |