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N. Korea fires artillery towards S. Korean island, official says (houses destroyed, fire broke out)
Yonhap News ^ | 11/23/10

Posted on 11/22/2010 10:44:16 PM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at english.yonhapnews.co.kr ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: artillery; dmz; dprk; fires; foreignpolicy; island; korea; koreanwar; nkorea; northkorea; shelling; skorea; southkorea; war; yeonpyeong
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To: TigerLikesRooster

wow. Thanks for posting the pics


521 posted on 11/23/2010 7:14:16 PM PST by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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To: TigerLikesRooster; AmericanInTokyo

Watchcon has been raised

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news...001800315.HTML

Quote:
The militaries of South Korea and the United States have upgraded the surveillance alert against North Korea as tensions were rising from the North’s artillery bombing on a South Korean island, military officials said Wednesday.

“The two sides raised the surveillance alert to Watchcon-2 from Watchcon-3 Tuesday night,” a South Korean military official said.
Quote:
Watchcon, divided into five levels, intensifies in the degree and frequency of intelligence gathering and analysis each time it is raised. Watchcon-2 would mean there are indications of a vital threat. In war, the level is raised to Watchcon-1.

The South’s military has also raised its non-wartime security alert to its highest level, known as “Jindokgae Hana,” for islands near the Yellow Sea border, officials at the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. So far, no unusual activities by the North’s military have been detected, they said.


522 posted on 11/23/2010 7:18:04 PM PST by jhpigott
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To: TigerLikesRooster; AmericanInTokyo

http://www.breakingnews.com/

“UN Command in S. Korea calls for officer level talks with N. Korea army through Panmunjon Mission - NBC
via user12:40AM GMTNov 24, 2010 “

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news...002200315.HTML

“U.N. Command proposes general-level talks with N. Korea
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) — The U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) has proposed holding general-level military talks with North Korea to discuss the North’s artillery attack on a populated South Korean island, the UNC said Wednesday.

“UNC has called for general officer-level talks with the Korean People’s Army, through their Panmunjom Mission, in order to initiate an exchange of information and de-escalate the situation,” the UNC said in a statement.”

AFAIK, this is the first time this has been called for in decades. TLR and AIT - is that correct or am I off?

News like this makes me think they don’t know who they are dealing with on the other end of the line


523 posted on 11/23/2010 7:20:39 PM PST by jhpigott
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To: TigerLikesRooster; AmericanInTokyo

From: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news...003000315.HTML

2010/11/24 10:34 KST

“(URGENT) S. Korea suspends promised flood aid to N. Korea: official”


524 posted on 11/23/2010 7:21:45 PM PST by jhpigott
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bttt


525 posted on 11/23/2010 7:21:45 PM PST by Uncle Ike (Rope is cheap, and there are lots of trees...)
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To: jhpigott
Not on Defcon yet.

We should have smoldering holes on the cliff of N. Korean shore which houses NK artillery by now, but we don't see them, do we?

526 posted on 11/23/2010 7:22:40 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster (The way to crush the bourgeois is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation)
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To: Uncle Ike

South Korea placing all embassies on “emergency alert”.

From: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/nati...13600315F.HTML

fair use

“2010/11/23 22:12 KST
(LEAD) Foreign ministry accuses N. Korea of violating armistice

SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s foreign ministry on Tuesday called North Korea’s artillery attack a “clear provocation” that violates multiple agreements between the two nations and instructed all of its overseas missions to be on emergency alert.


527 posted on 11/23/2010 7:22:45 PM PST by jhpigott
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To: TigerLikesRooster

W7VOA Steve Herman
#ROK defense minister facing severe criticism in Parliament now. Lawmakers want to know why it took more than an hour to return fire.
4 minutes ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Looks like President Lee isn’t the only one facing the heat. This level of incompetence is only going to invite more frequent and more violent acts by the DPRK


528 posted on 11/23/2010 7:25:00 PM PST by jhpigott
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To: TigerLikesRooster

TOT? Those poor bastards never had a chance. Even self-propelled units need time to concentrate and prepare. I suggest that South Korea deploy some UAV’s. If any NK pieces concentrate anywhere, they become a target.


529 posted on 11/23/2010 7:27:25 PM PST by tanuki (O-voters: wanted Uberman, got Underdog....)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

The Japanese Defense Ministry and Self-Defense Forces are on heightened alert following a deadly artillery exchange Tuesday between North and South Korea.

“Regardless of what occurs, attacking another nation’s soil cannot be tolerated,” Senior Vice Minister of Defense Jun Azumi told reporters Tuesday night, referring to North Korea’s artillery shelling of a South Korean island.
http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20101123D23JFA03.htm


530 posted on 11/23/2010 7:32:26 PM PST by jhpigott
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To: jhpigott

Sounds Japanese officials are more resolved than Lee Myung-bak. LOL. Not that it is surprising.


531 posted on 11/23/2010 7:46:01 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster (The way to crush the bourgeois is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation)
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To: TigerLikesRooster

I have no sympathy whatever for the Republic of Korea in this matter. It learned nothing from 1950, and doesn’t even have the excuse of being French. The Republic of Korea respects only its enemies.


532 posted on 11/23/2010 7:48:43 PM PST by Thud
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To: TigerLikesRooster

Now even stronger language out of South Korea. And some good detail on the attack itself. This was the first time since the Korean War that the North has fired artillery shells on a civilian area in South Korea.

From: http://english.chosun.com/site/data/...112400306.html

“Seoul Warns of ‘Severe Punishment’ Over N.Korean Attack

North Korea on Tuesday fired scores of coastal artillery and howitzer shells on Yeonpyeong Island in the West Sea, killing two South Korean marines, wounding 16 soldiers and three civilians, and damaging homes and facilities. This was the first time since the Korean War that the North has fired artillery shells on a civilian area in South Korea.

President Lee Myung-bak warned the North could launch further provocations because its military” is still on the offensive. I believe we should punish them severely to a point where they will never think of another attack.” Lee was speaking during a visit to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The government called the attack a “clear armed provocation.” Lee later told ministers in charge of foreign affairs and security to “respond firmly beyond the rules of engagement,” according to a government spokesman.

The South Korean military fired back some 80 K-9 self-propelled howitzer shells at the North Korean coastal artillery batteries. The two militaries exchanged fire for about an hour.

According to the JCS, the North Korean shells were fired from Kaemori and Mudo, both in Kangryong, Hwanghae Province, from 2:34 to 2:55 p.m. and from 3:10 to 3:41 p.m. Many landed on a military camp but others on a civilian village on the island. Flames and thick columns of smoke were seen rising above the village and a nearby mountain. “The North must have carefully premeditated the provocation against the camp,” a JCS officer speculated.

Locals were evacuated to shelters on the island, and military and police are assessing the damage. The JCS issued the highest Defcon level and increased the level of Watchcon, a five-stage surveillance alert, from 3 to 2. It also raised the alert for all military forces across the country.

North Korea claims the South Korea fired first since an annual drill was underway. “Despite our repeated warnings, South Korea fired dozens of shells... and we’ve taken strong military action immediately,” the official Korean Central News Agency said.

But JCS spokesman Lee Bung-woo denied this, “Our military carried out its regular maritime fire drill not northward but southward in the West Sea. Firing artillery shells on a civilian area under this pretext is clearly an illegal act and violation of the armistice.”

Presidential spokesman Hong Sang-pyo told reporters, “Seeing the North’s attack as an armed provocation, the government will cooperate with or make requests to allies or the UN.” “The government will take more concrete steps after further analyzing the situation,” he added.

The Unification Ministry decided to cancel inter-Korean Red Cross talks, which were slated for Thursday. They were to have discussed regular reunions of families separated by the Korean War, resumption of package tours to Mt. Kumgang, and rice and fertilizer aid to the North. The ministry also banned all visits from businesspeople and staff to the joint Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex on Wednesday. “


533 posted on 11/23/2010 8:01:28 PM PST by jhpigott
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To: jhpigott
I realize there are procedures they follow...and this is a highly charged situation...but it does seem that though the international community could go into N. Korea and take control they have not in the past and have opted not, apparently, to do no more than the normal even in this situation. I do not think that they will do much more than what has been done in the past... Stop food and continue with more sanctions etc. Just my take at this point.
534 posted on 11/23/2010 8:09:28 PM PST by caww
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To: caww

A little flavor from the Korean newspapers and editorials today. Let’s just say the rhetoric is ALOT tougher than after the Cheonan . . .

From: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%...24-248875.html

“S.Korean papers seek revenge for attack by North

Wed, Nov 24, 2010
AFP

SEOUL, South Korea - South Korean newspapers on Wednesday angrily branded North Korea’s deadly artillery attack a war crime, with many saying their country must not hesitate to strike back.

“A club is the only medicine for a mad dog,” said Dong-A Ilbo, calling the shelling a “war crime” and demanding a strong military riposte against the reclusive communist state.

“North Korea is putting a dagger to our throat,” the Chosun Ilbo daily warned. “Let’s retaliate against North Korea’s illegal attacks immediately, sternly and precisely.”

“Attacking civilian areas is a war crime prohibited even during wartime,” it said of Tuesday’s attack on the Yellow Sea island of Yeonpyeong, in which two marines were killed and 18 people including three civilians were wounded. “When we are faced with an enemy attack, the only thing that is required is a firmly determined spirit to respond by doing far greater damage against our enemy than they have inflicted on us,” Chosun Ilbo said.

The nuclear-armed state’s artillery assault, and South Korea’s response in firing back, was one of the worst border incidents since the Korean War ended nearly six decades ago.

The JoongAng Ilbo decried “the North’s indiscriminate attack” and said: “Let’s retaliate with national resolution. The Korean peninsula is on fire... we can never tolerate an attack on civilians.”

Like other newspapers, it mentioned North Korea’s nuclear programme, after the regime this month showed a US academic around a modern uranium reprocessing facility outside the capital Pyongyang.

“Their aggression will never weaken. The North’s leadership has demonstrated its viciousness and lack of conscience,” the paper said.

“We should launch an attack of retaliation and revenge. The responsibility falls solely on the North.”

The paper added: “We have to showcase that we are far outpacing the North not only in terms of wealth but also in terms of spirit and organisation.”

Its English-language sister paper the JoongAng Daily said that “North Korea’s provocation has gone beyond our imagination”.

“With our memories of the Korean War still vivid, this massive attack confirms again the grim reality that such a tragedy can be repeated at any time,” it said.

“We strongly warn the North that if it still prefers to play with fire, it is soon destined to be demolished by the fire it ignited first.” The paper said that “this provocation justifies any retaliation by us”.

Another English-language daily, the Korea Times, pointed out that the attack was the first against South Korean civilians since it blew up a Korean Air jet in 1987, and the first against an island since the 1950-53 Korean war.

“The attack appears to be part of the North’s attempt to consolidate internal grip on the way for the success of Kim Jong-Un,” the daily said, referring to the leader’s youngest son and designated successor.

“Seoul should prepare for additional bizarre provocative acts from the North, including its third nuclear test, as the North consolidates the power of Kim Jong-Un and prepares for the centenary of the birth of its founder Kim Il-Sung in 2012,” the daily said.

It also argued that “the only victim of the provocation should be North Korea. At a time when everyone is living outside a Cold War, Pyongyang is living in a Cold War.”


535 posted on 11/23/2010 8:24:59 PM PST by jhpigott
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To: jhpigott

Yes, I have read this. It is natural they would speak as so, otherwise the populace would be in the streets. But it is still “talk”. Louder but just talk.

Today Hillary, gates and Mcmullen?...met....other international leaders are weighing in. Remember there is an international push now for global governance...those involved are not going to let this happening get out of control....there will be no war.


536 posted on 11/23/2010 9:17:18 PM PST by caww
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To: okie01

(AP) The Obama administration encouraged everyone this evening to Facebook “like” - North Korea Please Stop Being Mean

/sarc


537 posted on 11/23/2010 9:29:01 PM PST by silentknight
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To: SevenofNine

Thanks for the ping.

Another act of war by N. Korea.


538 posted on 11/23/2010 10:52:53 PM PST by Cindy
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To: jhpigott; AmericanInTokyo; TigerLikesRooster

The last funky show http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwoSFQb5HVk


539 posted on 11/23/2010 11:10:55 PM PST by AdmSmith (GCTGATATGTCTATGATTACTCAT)
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To: caww

W7VOA Steve Herman
YTN: US-ROK joint military exercises to be held from Nov. 28. USS George Washington to join.

W7VOA Steve Herman
Drill will be conducted in Yellow Sea — potentially provocative to both #DPRK and #PRC.

W7VOA Steve Herman
USFK confirms USS George Washington will participate in joint exercise next week.


540 posted on 11/23/2010 11:13:27 PM PST by jhpigott
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