This is breaking via AP over the past 20+ minutes....
North Korea Attacks South Korea: Artillery Shelling Reported On Yeonpyeong Island
Kwang Tae-Kim
November 23, 2010 1:49AM EST
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea shot dozens of rounds of artillery onto a populated South Korean island near the countries' disputed western border Tuesday, and South Korean troops returned fire, military officials said.
Continued...
South Korea's YTN television said two people were injured, several houses were on fire and that shells were still falling on Yeonpyeong island. Yonhap news agency, quoting a military official, said four soldiers were wounded. The reports couldn't be immediately verified.
YTN said between 1,200 and 1,300 people live in the island, citing an island resident. TV pictures showed black and white smoke rising from the island.
A South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff official said dozens of rounds of artillery landed on the island and in the sea. The official says South Korea fired back. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of JCS rules, said South Korea's military is on alert. He had no other details.
Further reports indicate that : "South Korea says it has scrambled F-16 fighter jets and returned fire after North Korea shot dozens of rounds of artillery onto a populated South Korean island near the countries' western border.
More to follow....
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UPDATE #1: 2:07AM EST (AP)
"President Lee Myung-bak ordered officials to make sure that the firing wouldn't escalate, according to Yonhap, quoting a presidential official."
--Approx. 1,200-1,300 people live on the island.
--So. Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff "official" stated that dozens of artillery rounds landed on the island and in the sea.
--So. Korea has fired back.
--So. Korean military is on alert.
--Casualty reports are unconfirmed.
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UPDATE #2: 3:02AM EST (NY Times)
From Mark McDonald at the New York Times, 3:02AM EST:
North and South Korea Exchange Dozens of Artillery Shells
By MARK McDONALD
New York Times
November 23, 2010
SEOUL, South Korea -- North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire on Tuesday after dozens of shells fired from the North struck a South Korean island near the countries' disputed western sea border, South Korean military officials said.
The South Korean military immediately went to "crisis status," said a Defense Ministry official. There were widespread media reports that Seoul had scrambled F-16 fighter jets but the official declined to confirm whether the planes were in the air.
The South Korean broadcaster YTN reported that one marine had been killed and three others seriously wounded in the shelling on the island, in addition to two civilian casualties. TV footage showed large plumes of black smoke spiraling from the island.
--SNIP--
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said he was trying to prevent the clash from escalating into a greater conflict, Reuters reported, quoting the Yonhap news agency. YTN television reported that Seoul had warned of a stronger response if the North continued with provocations.
China expressed concern, Reuters reported...
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UPDATE #3: 4:30AM EST (Various Sources)
Here's Time.com's RSS feed...
Breaking News: North Korea Fires at South Korea, Injures 15, By: Hans Villarica
Like a temperamental volcano, North Korea is acting up again. Just over an hour ago, the North fired at least 200 rounds of artillery shells at the South's Yeonpyeong island, according to CNN.
"People are frightened to death and shelling continues as we speak," a witness on the island told Seoul TV station YTN. "Houses and mountains are on fire and people are evacuating."
At least 15 South Korean soldiers have been injured and around 60 houses have caught on fire, according to reports from various media outlets...
CNN is reporting 1 dead, 15 injured
South Korea's military is now on its highest non-wartime alert, according to Reuters, which also reported that the South Korea has warned of a stronger response if the North continues provocations.
And here's the link to an excellent background report/diary on this story posted in the past hour by fellow Kossack Stranded Wind: "North/South Korea Sea/Land Battle."
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That'll be it for me for a bit...I'll check-in around 9:30AM...