Artillery fire heard in North Korea Artillery heard on tense Yellow Sea island

[Turborama]

Source: ABC (Australia)

South Korea's military says two explosions have been heard off an island bombarded this week by North Korea, and it is checking the source of the sounds.

The two blasts were heard off Yeonpyeong island near the disputed border in the Yellow Sea, a joint chiefs of staff spokesman said. "We're checking the origin of the sounds," he said.

The North's bombardment of the island and surrounding seas on Tuesday killed four people, injured 18 and set buildings and forests ablaze.

YTN television described the noise as the sound of artillery shells. It quoted a military source as saying the shells seem to have landed on the North's side of the border.




Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/26/3077856.htm

---

Artillery heard on tense Yellow Sea island

AP foreign, Friday November 26 2010

JIN-MAN LEE

Associated Press= YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea (AP) — Fresh artillery shots were heard Friday on the tense South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, three days after it was devastated by a North Korean attack and hours after Pyongyang warned that the peninsula was on the brink of war.

The blasts happened just after the top U.S. commander in South Korea, Gen. Walter Sharp, toured Yeonpyeong Island in a show of solidarity with Seoul and to survey damage from Tuesday's hail of North Korean artillery fire that killed four people.

An official at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said several new rounds of artillery fire were heard Friday on Yeonpyeong, which is just 7 miles (11 kilometers) south of the North Korean mainland. The military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said several distant explosive sounds came from the direction of North Korea.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

AP photographers at an observation point on the northwest side of Yeonpyeong heard about four explosions, and said they witnessed at least one flash of light on the North Korean mainland.

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9379150


___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


This was on Al Jazeera English's ticker earlier: "S Korean officials say artillery fire heard near the tense border with the North appears to be within its territory'."


It has been turned into this new story:

N Korea warns of 'brink of war'

North Korea says Seol's military exercises with US are a recipe for war, as artillery fire is heard in the tense border.
Last Modified: Nov 26 2010 07:16 GMT

Days after it carried out its heaviest bombardment since 1953, Noth Korea on Friday has warned that South Korea's military exercises with the US bring the two neighbours to the "brink of war."

The stark warning comes as sounds of distant artillery fire were heard on Friday from within North Korea, and a Reuters witness said he saw smoke rising from inland North Korea.

South Korea's YTN television said the shells appeared to have landed north of a disputed maritime border in North Korean waters and the military does not believe the firing was aimed at the South.

Four people on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong including two civilians were killed in an artillery attack by the North on Tuesday when dozens of shells landed on the island. North Korea said it was responding to live fire from South Korea within its waters.

More: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/11/2010112624117160326.html


There are updates on TV every hour and their ticker is regularly updated. It can be watched online here: http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[Mojorabbit]

1. I found this

http://www.breakingnews.com/seed/ahBicmVha2luZ25ld3Mtd3d3cg0LEgRTZWVkGMGj6QEM/2010/11/26/south-korea-update-military-official-in-seoul-says-artillery-fire-appears-to-be-within-north-korean-territory-reuters?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
South Korea update: Military official in Seoul says artillery fire appears to be within North Korean territory - Reuters

[DJ13]

2. Sounds of artillery heard on island

Jin-man Lee And Foster Klug, Associated Press – 12 mins ago

YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea – South Korean officials said Friday that artillery shots were heard on the Yellow Sea island attacked earlier this week by North Korea.

The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said two explosive sounds were heard on Yeonpyeong island. A military official, speaking under conditions of anonymity, said officials were trying to figure out the circumstances.

It was not immediately clear if the artillery sounds were coming from North Korea or from the island.

The sounds came as the North warned Friday that U.S.-South Korean military drills planned for this weekend are pushing the peninsula to the brink of war, and after a U.S. military commander toured the wreckage of island communities devastated by a North Korean artillery barrage on Tuesday.

AP Television news reporters also reported a third blast.

Pyongyang's state news agency said drills this weekend involving South Korean forces and a U.S. nuclear powered supercarrier in Yellow Sea waters south of Tuesday's skirmish between the rival Koreas amount to a reckless move to target the North.

"The situation on the Korean peninsula is inching closer to the brink of war," the dispatch from the Korean Central News Agency said. "Gone are the days when verbal warnings are served only."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101126/ap_on_re_as/as_koreas_clash

[HEyHEY]

3. Extra breaking! Fire inside North Korea

;-)

[EvilMonk]

4. Oh...

This isn't good.

[Johnyawl]

5. It could be good...

...if the less-crazy in North Korea are shooting at the stark raving mad, (who happen to be in charge).

[EvilMonk]

7. Yeah but...

...given the history of extreme propaganda in NK, I wonder if they aren't doing a little "Reichstag" for the amusement of the locals. Ya know, to "justify" further "defense" against the evil South...

I REALLY hope not.

[L.Torsalo]

11. Just so you are informed,

SOUTH KOREA instigated the shelling. Read the news from other lands and you will discover that this is some kind of provocation by the West. North Korea is authoritarian, but it hasn't started a war in 50+ years...can we say the same? All a matter of perspective.

[Turborama]

12. If you're going to make allegations like that, you should back them up

"Read the news from other lands and you will discover"

Which news from what "other lands" are you talking about?

Without any foundation, for all we know you could just be making that up.

[intaglio]

13. Just so YOU are informed

Al Jazeera - no friend of the US - has nothing about SK beginning the shelling except a simple quote that NK blames SK for beginning the shelling

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/11/201011237130112306.html">Al Jazeera Timeline

Xinhua (the official Chinese news agency) reports that, as part of an exercise, SK artillery fired south and that NK claims all waters round the island as part of it's territorial waters.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-11/24/c_13620944.htm">Xinhua News

[Turborama]

14. What makes you say Al Jazeera is no friend of the US? n/t

[intaglio]

20. It is no friend and neither is it an enemy,

... generally it is neutral.

We forget that much of the professional media in the "Western" world carries a very pro-American bias, therefore seek as many sources as you can.

With the BBC it is wise to be very selective. It is often propaganda tool of the UK Government although the largely independent World Service still carries on the tradition of minimally biased journalism.

[Demstud]

22. That's not the point

The point is that there is no reason to believe the South started. No credible sources are reporting otherwise, not even sources sources often considered anti-U.S. by many people.

[Turborama]

24. Are you sure you're replying to the right person? n/t

[Turborama]

6. Anyone speak Korean? Someone's just uploaded to YouTube a TV report on this from South Korea

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wclm5sqM2Oo

[Poll_Blind]

8. As somone said, North Korea has nothing to lose. South Korea: Everything.

What a terrible situation. I really hope the "leadership" in NK just blow up and die- preferably without taking anyone else with them.

PB

[Turborama]

9. This on CNN: Sound of gunfire from suspected military exercises heard coming from North Korea

Breaking on their website: Sound of gunfire from suspected military exercises heard coming from North Korea, Yonhap news agency says.


http://edition.cnn.com/

[maddezmom]

10. N Korea stages artillery drill, warns of war

N Korea stages artillery drill, warns of war
By Stephen McDonell and wires

Updated 48 minutes ago


¬snip¬

The sound of fresh rounds of artillery emanating from North Korea led to fears of a fresh attack and sent South Koreans who remain on the island running to air raid shelters.

The South Korean government, however, said this seemed to be a training exercise and that no shells landed on its territory.

A defence ministry spokesman said explosions were heard several times and that about 20 shells had apparently landed on the North's side near the disputed border in the Yellow Sea.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd has told Channel Ten there does not appear to be cause for alarm at this stage.

"It appears to be live firing within North Korea - practice rounds - but that's just what we've deduced so far," he said.

more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/26/3077856.htm?section=justin

[brownsugar]

15. If I am not mistaken, South Korea started this whole mess

By firing into North Korean waters.

[Turborama]

16. Unless you've got any evidence to bring to the table, you are mistaken. n/t

[brownsugar]

17. That's not a logical argument

Re-read your post and tell me if it's logical.

[Turborama]

18. Have you got evidence that South Korea started this whole mess by firing into North Korean waters?

Proof? Links to articles? Anything?

[Demstud]

23. It's completely logical

You are saying something contradictory to pretty much all sources shown so far with 0 evidence. Or you are completely misinterpreting what news reports have actually said.

[hack89]

19. No - they were firing south into their own waters. nt

[NickB79]

21. SK fired SOUTH, away from NK

However, NK considers ALL the waters around the island to be theirs (this claim is not recognized by any other nation on the planet).

Basically it's like taking a walk in your backyard and your neighbor shoots you over the fence claiming you trespassed on his land.

[Akoto]

25. Defiant North Korea fires warning artillery shots

Source: Associated Press

YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea (AP) -- A defiant flash of North Korean artillery within sight of the island that it attacked this week sent a warning signal to Seoul and Washington: The North is not backing down.

The apparent military drill Friday came as the top U.S. commander in South Korea toured Yeonpyeong island to survey the wreckage from the rain of artillery three days earlier. As a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier headed toward the Yellow Sea for exercises next week with South Korea, the North warned that the joint maneuvers will push the Korean peninsula to the "brink of war."

South Korea's government, meanwhile, struggled to recoup from the surprise attacks that killed four people, including two civilians, and forced its beleaguered defense minister to resign Thursday. President Lee Myung-bak on Friday named a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the post.

Tensions have soared between the Koreas since the North's strike Tuesday destroyed large parts of Yeonpyeong in a major escalation of their sporadic skirmishes along the disputed sea border.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_KOREAS_CLASH?SITE=WHIZ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Joanne98]

26. China's backing them up!

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ZombieHorde]

30. Don't you think your picture is racist? nt

[herbm]

31. I agree with you. If I were Asian I think I'd be a bit put out.

[NYMdaveNYI]

28. K&R

[soryang]

29. South Korea's president is incompetent

He tried to sacrifice the Defense Minister for his mistakes.

The current South Korean president precipitated these episodes of fighting on the Korean maritime border by repudiating the Declaration issued by South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun after meeting with Kim Jong Il on October 4, 2007.

The Declaration stated:



"The South and the North have agreed to create a ‘special peace and cooperation zone in the West Sea’ encompassing Haeju and vicinity in a bid to proactively push ahead with the creation of a joint fishing zone and maritime peace zone, establishment of a special economic zone, utilization of Haeju harbor, passage of civilian vessels via direct routes in Haeju and the joint use of the Han River estuary.” (Jon Van Dyke, “The Maritime boundary between North & South Korea in the Yellow (West) Sea,” 38 North, U.S.-Korea Institute Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, July 29, 2010. Online at: www.38north.org/?p=1232.)

The maritime northern limit line was drawn unilaterally in 1953, was not a part of the Armistice and is generally considered to be incompatible with general principles of the law of maritime borders.

[CJvR]

32. IIRC...

Those islands were SK before the war so I see no reason for them not to remain SK after the war. But it is rather irrelevant, if not those islands Little Kim and Fat Kim would find something else to bitch about.

[soryang]

33. It's odd that many DU posters take the conservative position

...when it comes to Korean affairs.

[CJvR]

34. The "conservative" position?

Shouldn't that be supporting Little Kim? Afterall nothing have changed north of the demilitarized zone for 60 years.

[soryang]

35. The position taken by President Lee is a neo-con position...

...and a repudiation of the earlier democratic policies of South Korea and President Clinton.

[Pavulon]

36. You again? Clinton was within a hair of war

in korea. your position that they are neo-con is incorrect as well.

[soryang]

37. The chauvinism you consistently express will lead to war

Your conclusory zingers are little more than spin and jingoism.

[Pavulon]

38. So there was no crisis in 94?

you are a Korean expert, I'm not. But I do remember being in the army and hearing about how serious the situation was then. you remember kim young sam right?

[CJvR]

39. And when it comes to...

...chauvinism no one beats the Norks. I would not be surprised if Little Kim managed to provoke a war, he is used to the world caving in he just might push a bit to hard this time.

[thunder rising]

41. They are not coming across the line and the we ain't going north. We will not fly sorties and at

the end of the day ... those people are just dead.

[Riftaxe]

40. I am not sure that is of great solace to the families

of the 46 dead men from the Cheonan.

[ProgressiveMajority]

46. Agreed. What happened to the sunshine policies, engagement, Carter's Legacy?

By not treating North Korea as partners in peace, it's certain there will be no peace.

[molly77]

45. Sarah Palin called North Korea our ally. Wonder why she did that?

It seems in South America , the US only calls brutal dictators our allies. HMMMM

[ProgressiveMajority]

47. Are you making a serious point?

I think its pretty clear she just mindlessly misspoke. Are you saying it was a Freudian slip, like the right wingers who argue that Obama revealed Muslim sympathies when he said "57 states"?

[David__77]

42. Um, Kaesong was also part of S. Korea before the war.

What came before the war has little legal of practical bearing on what the post-war boundaries are. The S. Korean right-wingers precipitated this incident by their threats against N. Korean sovereignty. And I disagree with some who argue that any attack on N. Korea is justified. Imperialism under cover of "human rights" is imperialism just the same.

China will not tolerate the S. Korean right-wingers' attempt to sucker the US into a conflict.

[The Croquist]

43. The S. Korean right-wingers precipitated this incident?

Are you serious? North Korea is a nation so screwed up that it's hard to imagine how it wouldn't be better off getting destroyed in a war conventional or nuclear. In the almost 60 years since the Korean war South Korea has become an economic power while North Korea can't even feed it's own people. Why would South Korea want a war?

North Korea's major exports are people (sneaking into China) and counterfeit US dollars.

[David__77]

48. Some also excused war against Iraq.

They thought nothing could be worse than Baathist rule. Aside from the immorality of imperialists imposing their preferred system on others, things indeed did get worse in Iraq. You do not have a good picture of N. Korea. It is far worse off economically than S. Korea, of course; however, much of the food aid is not used to feed civilians, so much as to allow N. Korea to divert more resources into military preparation.

[JVS]

50. This might surprise you, but North Koreans disagree with your idea that...

"it's hard to imagine how it wouldn't be better off getting destroyed in a war conventional or nuclear"

[Debuttante]

44. I read both western and eastern media

Just so I don't limit myself to reading blame-the-north articles in the nytimes, cnn etc.

[Turborama]

49. You still haven't provided any links to what you've been reading

Until you do, no-one's going to take your allegations seriously.