North Korea fires shots near South's warship

SEOUL

North Korea fired two artillery shells Thursday toward a South Korean warship on patrol near the Yellow Sea border between the nations, according to the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

The JCS confirmed a South Korean Navy corvette returned fire with five shells, and was quoted by the local Yonhap News Agency as insisting it is “closely watching the North Korean military and preparing against additional provocations.”

Shortly after the exchange at around 6 pm, the South evacuated residents living just 14 kilometers away on Yeonpyeong Island - the site of artillery fire by the North in 2010 that claimed four South Korean lives.

Fishing boats were also told to leave open water and seek nearby ports.

Tensions had risen earlier this week when South Korea fired warning shots Tuesday toward three North Korean military vessels that had crossed their maritime border, often referred to as the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

On Wednesday North Korea responded by threatening to target warships from the South.

The JCS added that it is investigating the source of the North Korean shells, believed to have been fired using coastal artillery.

The NLL has been disputed by the North since it was unilaterally drawn by the United Nations Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

Aside from the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, the NLL border area has seen postwar battles fought between the Koreas in 1999, 2002 and 2009. Hundreds of shells were exchanged by the two sides this year alone.

North Korea denies responsibility for the sinking of a South Korean warship in the same waters in 2010, which claimed 46 lives.

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