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North Korea Shells South Korean Island

   Steve Herman | Seoul 23 November 2010

Photo: AP

   Smoke  billow  from  Yeonpyeong  island  near the border against North
   Korea, in South Korea, 23 Nov 2010

   In the most serious incident in decades, North Korea Tuesday unleashed
   an  artillery  barrage  on  a  small South Korean island. South Korean
   forces  were conducting military exercises on Yeongpyeong at the time.
   Officials  say one marine was killed and 13 others were wounded.  The
   shelling  prompted  South Korea to scramble fighter jets and go on its
   highest peace-time level of alert.
   South  Korean  authorities  say  scores  of  North  Korean  shells set
   buildings  ablaze  on  Yeongpyeong  island, just 12 kilometers off the
   North Korean coast.
   Fishing  boat captain Shin Eung-ho says a shell fell next door, but he
   was not home at the time.
   He  says  the  island was hit by an initial barrage of 15 shells, then
   there  was  a  break  of  40  minutes  before  the  shelling  resumed,
   destroying many homes.
   The  island  has  more  than 1,000 residents, some of whom headed into
   bunkers. Others began fleeing in boats.
   South  Korean  President  Lee  Myeung-bak  met  with aides in a secure
   bunker  and  says  the  shelling demands a firm response. South Korean
   forces have returned fire.
   China  has  expressed  concern,  saying  both Koreas should do more to
   contribute  to  peace.  Russia  is  warning  against  an escalation of
   tension on the Korean peninsula.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters

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