'Preventative measure': South Korea orders evacuation on border islands as North Korea fires artillery shells

Moments after North Korea launched over 200 artillery rounds into the sea near the heavily fortified maritime border with South Korea on Friday, Seoul issued evacuation order for residents of the two South Korean islands describing it as a “preventative measure”. The South Korean defence ministry, however, did not confirm whether the evacuation was prompted by North Korea’s artillery firing or South Korean drills. However, a text message sent to residents mentioned “naval fire” by South Korean troops starting at 3 pm (0600 GMT) on Friday. The evacuation of Yeonpyeong Island, located just south of the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL), was initiated at the request of the South Korean military. According to South Korea’s military briefing, the North’s artillery fire did not cause any damage in the southern territory. Additionally, residents of Baengnyeong Island, situated farther west near the sea border, were also directed to evacuate, as confirmed by a local village official. North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shells near two South Korean islands on Friday, Seoul’s defence ministry said, warning the actions threatened peace and it would respond. Residents on the two islands were ordered to evacuate, in one of the most serious military escalations between the two Koreas since the North fired a barrage of shells at one of the islands in 2010. Friday’s live firing followed repeated warnings from Kim Jong Un’s regime in Pyongyang that it was prepared for war against South Korea and its US ally. “The North Korean military conducted over 200 rounds of firing today from around 09:00 to 11:00 (1200 to 0200 GMT) in the areas of Jangsan-got in the northern part of Baengnyeong Island and the northern areas… of Yeonpyeong Island,” a defence ministry official said at a briefing. The ministry released a statement shortly after stating: “This is a provocative act that threatens the peace on the Korean Peninsula.” “We sternly warn that North Korea bears full responsibility for this escalating crisis and strongly urge them to immediately cease these actions,” it added. “Our military closely tracks and monitors the situation in close coordination with the United States, and will take appropriate measures in response to North Korea’s provocations.” With inputs from agencies