The North Korean military fired about 200 artillery shells off the west coast near the northern boundary line with South Korea. According to the South Korean military, the shelling took place between 9 and 11 local time on 5 January near the South Korean islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong. There were no casualties.
The South Korean military called North Korea’s actions a provocation and warned of retaliation. At the request of the military, authorities are evacuating people from Yeonpyeong Island, the closest island to the border. Also, the South Korean army is conducting retaliatory exercises at sea.
It is also worth noting that military co-operation between the DPRK and Russia is getting stronger and stronger. Russia has already used ballistic missiles from North Korea to shell Ukraine on 30 December and 2 January, the White House said.
The USA intends to raise the issue of North Korean missile deliveries in the UN Security Council and impose additional sanctions on those involved in these deals, the coordinator for strategic communications at the White House National Security Council, John Kirby, said.
