FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
South Korea has announced that North Korea fired 60 artillery shells near Jeonpeong Island on January 6. This announcement comes a day after the two Koreas conducted military exercises in the same area near the maritime border between the two countries.
Pyongyang's drills come shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for stronger combat readiness to face what he called a US-led deepening confrontation.
North Korea is likely to continue its provocative nuclear weapons and missile tests to increase its leverage in possible future negotiations with Washington as the US heads to the November election, experts say.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the North fired more than 60 artillery shells near the western maritime border on Saturday afternoon. South Korea immediately asked North Korea to stop acts that increase tensions and warned that it will respond "seriously" to any provocation by North Korea.
"South Korea will take appropriate military steps if North Korea continues artillery exercises that pose a threat to South Korean citizens," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, but gave no information on whether it would respond to this provocation. .
The Korean drills were a violation of a 2018 inter-Korean agreement aimed at easing frontline military tensions. Reached during a brief rapprochement period, the agreement calls for a ban on live-fire exercises in front-line areas. But growing hostilities following the launch of the North's first military spy satellite in November have left the military deal in tatters. After this action, both Koreas have taken steps to violate the agreement.
On Friday, North Korea fired about 200 artillery shells near the site in its first naval exercise. This exercise was held in abeyance for a year.
In response, South Korea's Defense Ministry said troops on two border islands fired artillery south of the maritime border. Local media said South Korea fired 400 artillery shells.
Ahead of South Korea's drills, Seoul authorities asked residents of five large islands near the border of the West Sea to evacuate to safe locations amid concerns that North Korea would retaliate. The evacuation order was lifted a few hours later.
North Korea's military said Friday that its drills were in response to South Korea's military exercise earlier this week. Pyongyang warned that North Korea would launch "harsh countermeasures at an unprecedented level" if South Korea engaged in provocations.
The western maritime border between the two Koreas was the site of bloody naval clashes between the two states in 1999, 2002 and 2009. According to North Korea, the alleged torpedoing of a South Korean warship killed 46 Pyongyang sailors in March 2010. North Korea retaliated and bombings killed four South Koreans in November 2010.
At a recent meeting of the ruling party, Kim unleashed harsh and mocking rhetoric against South Korea, saying South Korea should not be considered a partner for reconciliation or unification. He ordered the military to use all available means, including nuclear weapons, to invade South Korea in the event of a conflict.
Since 2022, North Korea has conducted more than 100 missile tests, many of them nuclear-capable weapons aimed at the US territory and South Korea. The US and South Korea have responded by expanding their military drills, which North Korea calls an invasion test. / Adapted "Pamphlet" from "Associated Press"
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