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October 25, 2022

North and South Korea Exchange Warning Shots Amid Heightened Nuclear Tensions
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North and South Korea exchanged warning shots in waters off the west
coast of the Korean peninsula on Monday, after South Korea's military
accused a North Korean merchant vessel of crossing a maritime boundary.
The exchange of artillery fire came after South Korean forces joined the
USS Ronald Reagan carrier battle group for US-led war games off the
Korean peninsula. It follows a record pace of weapons tests carried out
by North Korea this year. On Monday, South Korean president Yoon
Suk-yeol promised a strong military response to what he said were plans
by North Korea to carry out its first nuclear weapons test in more than
5 years.

President Yoon Suk-yeol: "Not only has it openly announced its
intentions to preemptively use nuclear weapons, it appears that
preparations for a seventh nuclear test have already been completed. …
We will strengthen our deterrence against North Korea with overwhelming
capabilities, through the combined defense posture of South Korea and
the United States, as well as security cooperation between South Korea,
the United States and Japan, so that our people can live their daily
lives with confidence."



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