South Korea Starts Firing Drills Amid Tension Following North Korea's Artillery Barrage

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

South Korea's army began firing artillery into the waters off the divided Korean peninsula as part of weeklong drills set to continue thorough Sunday, South Korean army and Joint Chiefs of Staff officers said.

The officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing office rules, said the drills were to take place at nearly 30 sites, but none of Monday's exercises were near the disputed western sea border between the Koreas where last month's attack took place. The navy said warships were to join the drills later this week.

South Korea's military and Defense Ministry declined to provide further details on the drills.

Tensions have soared since Nov. 23, when North Korea rained shells on Yeonpyeong Island, killing four South Koreans, including two civilians. The North said South Korea first fired artillery toward its territorial waters. South Korea says it fired shells southward, not toward North Korea, as part of routine exercises.

Deadly skirmishes occur periodically along the disputed maritime border, but the latest assault on Yeonpyeong, home to both fishing communities and military bases, was the North's first to target a civilian area since the 1950-53 Korean War.

On Sunday, North Korea lashed out at South Korea for causing "uncontrollable, extreme" tension on the peninsula, pointing to the planned firing drills and what it called South Korea's "frantic provocations."

Read more: http://www.newser.com/article/d9ju6e000/south-korea-starts-firing-drills-amid-tension-following-north-koreas-artillery-barrage.html

[thunder rising]

1. talk, talk and more talk ... the NK are ROFLOL