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.

[rdl6989]

I shouldn’t be surprised Totus would do nothing.

[Daus]

Pentagon: No additional US troops to the region. Too soon to consider boosting deterrent.

The next two years are going to be interesting. With the political tide turning here in the states, NK knows they have a limited window to be aggressive.

[Eye of Unk]

Obama thinking our military will “absorb” any more attacks?

I swear if anything what is happening NOW will cause something to burst open, and in some short order Obama will get the stage hook.

[TigerLikesRooster]

No, I meant some truly unexpected development you and I could not have anticipated now.

Actually I have one scenario: Kim Jong-il dies tonight, and wailing NK broadcaster shows up on NK State TV announcing his death.

[justa-hairyape]

DU`ers siding with NoKo and claiming the war-mongering US provoked this.

They control the Congress, the Senate and the Presidency. Perhaps they need to look a good long look into the mirror for a change.

[OldDeckHand]

"Marshall was the head of the Army in 1945. Ike was still in Europe."

No, you're right. Marshall and Truman kept him in the dark. I haven't had my second cup of java yet. Still a little foggy.

[dfwgator]

Actually I have one scenario: Kim Jong-il dies tonight, and wailing NK broadcaster shows up on NK State TV announcing his death.

Followed by scenes of over acting, such as this

Kim Il Sung Dies

[chessplayer]

Has our fearless leader issued an apology to NoKo yet?

[OB1kNOb]

Has our fearless leader issued an apology to NoKo yet?

He's practicing as we speak......

[Michael Barnes]

My bet is on a LOT of activity under water in that area right about now..Wouldn’t surprise me if its a bit crowded as well.

[chessplayer]

” ALERT: The United States says it is not moving additional military power into South Korea following artillery attack by North Korea. “

“IF this is accurate, and there’re no steps in motion to reinforce the 8th Army - and I’ve seen no reports to indicate preparations for evacuation — then are we forced to conclude that the sacrifice-in-place of 28,000 American Lives is considered ‘acceptable losses’??”

We can`t pull troops out of thin air. As for the troops already in SoKo,,,they`ve always been considered nothing more than a sacrificial trip wire, like our troops posted along the west/east German border during the Cold War.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I don't get the whole “they were provoked” line of BS. When I was in the USAF, stationed on Guam, every time the US and South Korea announced joint exercises, the North threatened retaliation. SAC always went on alert just in case. It's been that way since at least the 70s and I don't think it ever changed. Threatening was the North's normal posture until now. I would have been concerned when the Norks didn't sabre rattle.

[Electric Graffiti]

"then are we forced to conclude that the sacrifice-in-place of 28,000 American Lives is considered ‘acceptable losses’??"

China has Ogabe by his microscopic nut sack. It wouldn't suprise me at all that they are calling the shots.

In my opinion, China will be the one's to act against NK and essentially take over. A good exercise before they do the same with Taiwan......then Japan.

[KeyLargo]

U.S. President Barack Obama, right, listens to a speech by South Korean President.

[Eye of Unk]

I do believe there is an astonishing amount of ROV type of minelayers, mines that lay dormant and then act as torpedoes, and mines that can mimic the sounds of attack subs.

[GeronL]

There needs to be a heavy response to this. Have any countries condemned the N Koreans yet?

[Osage Orange]

Pretty much!!

Sadly......

[AU72]

The United States says it is not moving additional military power into South Korea following artillery attack by North Korea.

That decision rests with Obama, but I would love to know what the Pentagon recommendation was.

[justa-hairyape]

Found this paragraph on a weird news site. Don't want to link cause of pop-ups and other stuff. Perhaps we can find the info on another normal news site. This is apparently want China thinks or at least what they want released.

Excerpt follows

North Korea’s 26-year-old future dictator is linked to a deadly artillery attack on South Korean territory, which caused South Korea to return fire and scramble F-16 fighters.

Zhang Liangui, a North Korean expert at Beijing’s Central Party School, told the Herald that the plan was an effort for Kim Jong-un to de-establish the environment in order to mobilize the military and consolidate his power, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

[maquiladora]

1600: That ends our live coverage following the exchange of fire between North and South Korea.

I guess as far as the BBC is concerned, this crisis is over.