N. Korea fires artillery towards S. Korean island, official says (houses destroyed, fire broke out)

Yonhap News ^ | 11/23/10

[TigerLikesRooster]

N. Korea fires artillery towards S. Korean island, official says

SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Tuesday fired several rounds of artillery towards South Korean waters and an island near the tense west sea border, the South's military said.

The North's artillery shells fell at 2:34 p.m. in the South's waters off the island of Yeonpyeong, some of them landing directly on the island, said Col. Lee Bung-woo, spokesman at the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The South's military responded with its artillery firing.

[bert]

.....well-placed cruise missiles fired from anonymous sea vessels ......

With all ID and component markings in Cyrillic

[driftdiver]

“I also believe US should consider evacking civilians from Seoul.”

I would imagine there is discussion on this topic among those in country. If they’re waiting for guidance from the WH they will probably be waiting a while.

[Uncle Ike]

Comment??

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S. Korea may strike N. Korea’s missile base: President Lee
Korea Herald ^ | 11/23/10

Posted on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 5:40:15 AM by sand lake bar

President Lee Myung-bak ordered his military Tuesday to strike North Korea’s missile base around its coastline artillery positions if it shows signs of additional provocation, his spokeswoman said.

In a video conference with Gen. Han Min-koo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the president ordered “multiple-fold retaliation” against the North for its artillery attack on a South Korean island, according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2631759/posts

[TigerLikesRooster]

Within 12-48 hours?

That is likely. They will first work it out with U.S. military. If they want well-coordinated reprisal, it may take a few days, too.

On the pessimistic side, this could degenerate into another spectacle of USS George Washington threatening to move into Yellow Sea, back out, then come back again, and eventually going away, while China is foaming at the mouth.

[maquiladora]

Is this news to you guys?

S. Korea may strike N. Korea’s missile base: President Lee

SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) — President Lee Myung-bak ordered his military Tuesday to strike North Korea’s missile base around its coastline artillery positions if it shows signs of additional provocation, his spokeswoman said.

In a video conference with Gen. Han Min-koo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the president ordered “multiple-fold retaliation” against the North for its artillery attack on a South Korean island, according to presidential spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung.

[TigerLikesRooster]

if it shows signs of additional provocation

This is a catch. He is not really into it.

[bert]

Do the Russians really matter? The Russians are audience, not player

[AmericanInTokyo]

The peninsula on the DPRK side down into the West Sea from whence these attacks on South Korea were launched, and also the little island just south of there, these face Yongpyongdo, and could be attacked by South Korea, in fact, should be attacked and decimated, or at least put of out notice. Window: 48 hours max.

[TigerLikesRooster]

if it shows signs of additional provocation

Will it show such sign in the next few days? The guy should just shut up, draw up reprisal plan with U.S. and carry it out without announcement. Do it any other way could be just a show, all talk, no bite.

[bert]

-——if ——

[TigerLikesRooster]

So the deadline is 2:43pm Nov. 25 local time. Hmmm...

[maquiladora]

Sounds to me that by making this public it’s more of a message to NK rather than an actual plan of action.

[jhpigott]

Wasn’t there a report from earlier this morning stating that there were indications the KPA was readying additional artillery units that could target Seoul?

Wouldn’t that classify as a “provocation”.

What is news to me is that Lee is saying a “provocation” will be enough to bring forth a strike, don’t necessarily need another DPRK attack at this point.

[TigerLikesRooster]

more of a message to NK

the message NK won't give a rat about. In a nutshell, it means "I will really really hit you if you hit me one more time." LOL.

[justa-hairyape]

The Russians are audience, not player.

Just reporting the news. Russians have a border with North Korea. Just a tiny one. They certainly would love to see a conflict between China and the US, though.

[maquiladora]

The problem is that after the Cheonan incident he threatened that any further acts of violence would bring serious retaliation. Well we have now another act of violence from NK and all he is doing is threatening retaliation if there is another provocation....

It’s an endless cycle, and as long as NK seperates its acts of violence by a period of time then nothing seems to happen.

[GonzoGOP]

he peninsula on the DPRK side down into the West Sea from whence these attacks on South Korea were launched, and also the little island just south of there, these face Yongpyongdo, and could be attacked by South Korea, in fact, should be attacked and decimated, or at least put of out notice. Window: 48 hours max.

That would involve courage, fortitude, determination and a willingness to stand up to evil. President Pee Pee Pants is 0-4 in that game. And every totalitarian thug in the world knows it. Korea is on their own. And they won't do anything without someone backing their action.

I have no problem with a black president. But the one we have now is yellow to the core.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Well, it leaves large room for interpretation. A big loop-hole. He is merciless denounced by his political base for p*ssy footing at this moment. It all depends on how he size up the situation. If he feels that domestic public opinion is dangerously against him, he will follow your kind of interpretation. Otherwise, he will go for more lenient one.

[justa-hairyape]

How the heck do you deal with people like this ?

South Korea fired first: North

North Korea said on Tuesday it was South Korea which fired first and that they had to fire in retaliation.

[jhpigott]

+1

Problem is without a serious reprisal by the ROK the intervals between these acts is going to grow shorter and the incidents themselves more violent, until it gets to a point that the ROK has no choice but to respond