North Korea conducted artillery drills on January 5th along the disputed maritime border with South Korea, firing over 200 artillery shells that landed near the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong. This prompted South Korea to issue an evacuation order for residents on Yeonpyeong and several other islands. The provocation raises tensions between the rival Koreas and risks further escalation.
North Korea Conducts Live-Fire Artillery Drills Near Border
North Korea fired over 200 artillery shells beginning around 2:59 pm local time on January 5th, with the shells landing in buffer zones just north of the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea [1]. The NLL serves as the de facto maritime border between North and South Korea, though North Korea does not recognize this boundary.
The artillery fire prompted South Korea to issue an evacuation order for residents on Yeonpyeong island and several other islands located near the maritime border [2]. Officials ordered residents into shelters as a precaution amid the North Korean artillery fire.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) reported that North Korea fired about 100 shells from Kosong on North Korea’s west coast and another 100 rounds from neighboring Gaechon town [3]. The shells landed in water between North Korea and Yeonpyeong Island. Yeonpyeong lies just south of the NLL and has been the site of past skirmishes between the rival Koreas.
South Korea Fires Warning Shots in Response
In response to North Korea’s artillery fire, South Korea’s military fired warning shots and broadcast warnings by loudspeaker telling North Korea to stop the provocation [4].
South Korea also quickly mobilized F-35A stealth fighter jets and other air force assets after detecting signs of an imminent North Korean artillery attack at 2:48 p.m [5]. The rapid response reflects enhanced surveillance capabilities South Korea has developed to counter North Korean threats.
Residents Evacuated From Border Islands
The evacuation order from South Korea’s military directed residents of Yeonpyeong island and neighboring Baengnyeong Island to evacuate into underground shelters [6]. The order covered about 200 residents across the two islands located near the maritime border.
Yeonpyeong Island lies just seven miles from the North Korean coast. It has been the site of past clashes between the Koreas, including North Korea’s deadly artillery attack in 2010 that killed four South Koreans. Tuesday’s evacuation order was the first for the island since the 2010 attack.
Residents were directed to remain inside the concrete bunkers for over three hours until the evacuation order was lifted around 5:40 p.m. No civilian casualties or property damage was reported from North Korea’s artillery fire into the buffer zones.
| Island | Population | Prior Evacuations |
|---|---|---|
| Yeonpyeong | 1,780 | 2010 artillery attack |
| Baengnyeong | 5,000 | None |
The islands lie quite close to North Korea, with Yeonpyeong Island located just over 7 miles from the North Korean coast. In the past, North Korea has threatened to turn the islands into a “sea of fire” during periods of escalating tensions between the Koreas. This prompted South Korea to evacuate the islands as a precaution.
North Korea May Seek Provocation to Influence Elections
Analysts expressed concern that North Korea’s latest provocation risks further retaliation and escalation of military tensions on the peninsula. Some warned that North Korea may carry out additional provocations in the months ahead, seeking to influence upcoming elections in both South Korea and the United States [7].
South Korea is slated to hold presidential elections in March 2024. Meanwhile, campaigning is already underway for the U.S. presidential election in November.
By stoking tensions, observers say North Korea aims to raise security threats in the minds of South Korean and American voters. This could boost chances for candidates favoring more engagement with Pyongyang, while discrediting leaders like outgoing South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol who have taken harder lines against North Korea.
Joint U.S.-South Korea Military Exercises Underway
The artillery exchange along the maritime border comes while the U.S. and South Korea are holding large-scale joint military exercises this week involving an American Stryker armored brigade [8].
The nine-day exercises began Monday and involve some 4,000 American and South Korean troops drilling together in simulated battles and disaster relief responses at locations around South Korea.
While the allies say the exercises are defensive in nature, North Korea often views joint military drills as preparation to invade and responds with shows of force or weapons tests of its own.
On Wednesday, North Korea test-fired short range ballistic missiles and hundreds of artillery shells into the sea, just one day before the artillery barrage along the maritime border. The missile launches did not violate U.N. sanctions but were seen as a protest against the joint military drills.
Calls for Restraint After Latest Exchange of Fire
Government officials in South Korea and the U.S. vowed a stern and proportional response if North Korea commits further provocations. At the same time, leaders called for restraint by both sides to prevent a dangerous military escalation.
U.S. Secretary of State Eric Schultz said that America will stand by their South Korean allies and that the U.S. commitment to South Korea’s defense remains “iron-clad” [9]. Meanwhile, South Korean Minister of Defense Lee Jong-sup warned that reckless actions by North Korea risk leading down a “path of destruction” [10].
However, Minister Lee also cautioned against uncontrolled retaliation, saying: “The rules of response and rhetoric should not aggravate the situation…We must respond firmly, while leaving room for diplomacy on the table.”
China, North Korea’s main political and economic backer, also urged both sides to exercise restraint following the exchange of artillery fire across the disputed sea border [11]. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson called on all parties to “remain calm, exercise restraint, resume dialogue as soon as possible, and work together to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”
The latest escalation in military tensions between the rival Koreas risks setting off a dangerous tit-for-tat cycle of retaliation. As the region holds its breath for North Korea’s next move, the world continues to watch in hopes that cool heads can prevail.
References
[1] https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/01/05/rival-koreas-conduct-provocative-drills-along-their-tense-sea-boundary-escalating-animosities.html
[2] https://www.barrons.com/news/n-korea-fires-artillery-shells-evacuation-order-for-s-korea-island-55c0f67a
[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67889551
[4] https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/01/05/world/north-korea-yeonpyeong-island-artillery-intl-hnk/index.html
[5] https://m.koreaherald.com/amp/view.php?ud=20240102000761
[6] https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/east-asia/north-korea-south-artillery-firing-live-drills-evacuation-b2473633.html
[7] https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/12/36420414/kim-jong-uns-north-korea-plans-military-and-cyber-attacks-in-2024-ahead-of-us-south-korean-elections
[8] https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2024-01-05/army-stryker-brigade-north-south-korea-12561871.html
[9] https://www.rfa.org/english/news/korea/sk-president-remarks-01012024214953.html
[10] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/defense-chief-warns-n-korea-s-reckless-provocations-will-become-prelude-to-destruction/ar-AA1mhTMI
[11] https://breakingthenews.net/Article/China-calls-on-parties-to-restrain-from-conflict-on-Korean-Peninsula/61228107
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