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.

[TigerLikesRooster]

There has been always one way: obliteration.
We try to finesse it and make the process less costly. We instead make the resolution prohibitively costly. It has all become our collective Karma: S. Korea, U.S., etc. A lion share of Karma goes to Chicom, too.

[nina0113]

Let’s Roll.

Who's this "Let's"? Do you really think Obama is going to honor America's treaty obligations?

[redgolum]

Isn't this an act of war?

The real question is, for those in Seoul, do you head south now or not?

[exit82]

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

Your post wins today's FR Truth in Posting award.

[littleharbour]

This is what happens after decades of appeasement. As for the claims that the South fired first, I suspect that 2/3rd of the Democrats in Congress believe that claim!

[TigerLikesRooster]

until it gets to a point that the ROK has no choice but to respond

Unfortunately, it is my personal feeling that it will get to that before 2012. We will allow NK regime to miscalculate. Not just internationally, but domestic situation in SK is not good in that regard

I am afraid it will all coalesce into a situation ideal for Kim Junior's miscalculation.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Not yet, I suppose.

[AmericanInTokyo]

[KevinDavis]

Ruh Oh Shaggy...

[TexasFreeper2009]

Obama is writting a sternly worded letter as we speak!

*sigh*

[rdl6989]

I think South Korea should stay on FULL ALERT and raise security level to the highest possible. I also believe US should consider evacking civilians from Seoul.

Agreed!

[jhpigott]

President Obama is expected to speak to South Korea’s president shortly.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/....

[AU72]

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?

I hope the War Plan is a pre-emptive strike that would take out that artillery when certain movements of the KPA are detected.

[jhpigott]

Language out of President Lee’s office seems to be changing a little bit -

1305: Japan describes North Korea’s artillery attack as “unforgiveable”, Reuters reports.

1305: The office of South Korea’s president says in a statement: “The firing... constitutes an indisputable armed provocation against the Republic of Korea. Such actions will never be tolerated... The North Korean authorities will have to take full responsibility for the incident.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/....

[KevinDavis]

Ditto..

[maquiladora]

1333: The US special representative to North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, says he has talked with Chinese officials in Beijing about the shelling of Yeonpyeong. "We both share a view that such conflict is very undesirable, and I expressed to them the desire that restraint be exercised on all sides and I think we agree on that," he adds.

So clearly Obama won't be giving the green light to Lee for any retaliation. Isn't it the case that there has to be US/ROK agreement on any military action apart from acts of instant self defense?

[AU72]

Can the ROK government survive a tepid response?

[b4its2late]

[TigerLikesRooster]

You found it. I tried to post it and translate various comments in the diagram. But I figure it was too much work at the moment.:-)

[Vermont Lt]

i dont understand any of that writing. You mean the TV screens are not in English? Don’t they know we cannot be bothered learning another language.

The nerve.

[Of course I am joking. I understand this is from Korean TV.]