The DPRK fired waters of a South Korean island

North Korean artillery launched numerous strikes on the coastal waters around the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong. Local media reported on this. On January 5, at 9am, the coastal waters of the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong came under massive artillery fire.

Within two hours, North Korea fired about 200 rounds. The South Korean island of Yeonpyeong is located in the Yellow Sea. It is located about 80 kilometers west of Incheon and 12 kilometers south of the coastline of Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

The South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, which was shelled on January 5, 2024

The South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the detection of artillery shelling from Cape Jansan, north of the northernmost island of Pengnyon in South Korea, and Cape Dongsan.

According to local media, no one was killed or injured in the incident. Against the backdrop of a military provocation by the DPRK, the South Korean government ordered civilians on the island to evacuate. The order was given at 12:02 a.m. and again at 12:30 a.m. on Friday at the request of the South Korean military.

The 2010 incident

This is not the first time that the North Korean artillery has struck the island.

In 2010, during South Korea's artillery exercises in the disputed waters near the island, the North Koreans struck at them. About 170 artillery shells and missiles were fired at Yeonpyeong Island, having hit both military and civilian targets.

Yeonpyeong Island under fire from North Korean artillery, November 23, 2010

The DPRK's official representative office that time justified its actions as a response to South Korean artillery fire on North Korean territorial waters. The shelling caused losses among the military and civilians on the island.

Two South Korean marines were killed and six others were seriously wounded. Two civilians were also killed. Numerous strikes caused a series of fires on the island.

According to the local government, 70 percent of the island's forests and fields were burned, and 21 houses and 8 public buildings were destroyed as a result of the bombing.