Koreas in border artillery clash

[cormiermax]

South Korea says it has returned fire after North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells at one of its border islands, killing two marines.

The South's military was placed on its highest non-wartime alert after the shells landed on Yeonpyeong island.

Pyongyang accused the South of firing first. The Southern military said it had conducted exercises but shelling was directed away from the North.

This is one of the worst clashes since the Korean War ended, analysts say.

There have been occasional cross-border incidents since the conflict ended without a peace treaty in 1953, but the latest comes at a time of rising regional tension.

North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il is thought to be ill and trying to ensure the succession of his youngest son.

On Saturday, it emerged that North Korea had also shown off what it claimed was a new uranium enrichment facility to an American scientist.

The move prompted the US to rule out the resumption of six-party talks on nuclear disarmament that Pyongyang abandoned two years ago.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called on North Korea to "halt its belligerent action", adding that the US was "firmly committed" to South Korea's defence.

An emergency session of the United Nations Security Council could be held on Tuesday or Wednesday, a French diplomatic source said.

A spokesman for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korean shells had started falling in the waters off the island of Yeonpyeong at 1434 local time (0534 GMT).

At least 50 landed directly on the island, most of them hitting a South Korean military base there. Sixteen South Korean marines and three civilians were injured.

A resident on the island told the AFP news agency that dozens of houses had been damaged by the barrage. Television pictures showed plumes of smoke rising above the island.

"Houses and mountains are on fire and people are evacuating," a witness on the island told YTN television station. "People are frightened to death."

Local government spokesman Yoon Kwan-seok said the shelling lasted for about an hour and then stopped abruptly.

"All of the island's 1,600-odd residents were evacuated to shelters," he said.

The South's military fired back some 80 shells. Casualties on the northern side are unknown.

South Korean fighter jets were also deployed to Yeonpyeong, which lies about 3km (1.8 miles) south of the disputed inter-Korean maritime border.

President Lee Myung-bak ordered the military to retaliate against North Korean targets in case of "additional provocations", his spokesman said.

Earlier, the president's office said: "North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeong island constitutes a clear armed provocation."

But North Korea's supreme military command blamed South Korea for the incident.

"The South Korean enemy, despite our repeated warnings, committed reckless military provocations of firing artillery shells into our maritime territory near Yeonpyeong island beginning 1300 (0400 GMT)," the state-run KCNA news agency quoted it as saying.

The North would "continue to make merciless military attacks with no hesitation if the South Korean enemy dares to invade our sea territory by 0.001mm", it warned.

"It is our military's traditional response to quell provocative actions with a merciless thunderbolt."

South Korean military officials later said that it had been conducting regular military drills in the sea off Yeonpyeong before the incident, but that no fire was aimed towards North Korea.

There was more condemnation of North Korea from Russia, EU and the UK, although China - the North's main ally - refused to apportion blame.

A spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry said that both countries should "do more to contribute to peace".

"What's imperative now is to restart six-party talks as soon as possible," Hong Lei told a news conference in Beijing.

Japan's Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, said he had ordered ministers to prepare for any eventuality.

"I ordered them to make preparations so that we can react firmly, should any unexpected event occur," he said after an emergency cabinet meeting in Tokyo.

Russia's foreign minister warned of a "colossal danger", and said those behind the attack carried a huge responsibility.

The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says news of the incident has caused concern on international financial markets, with both the Korean won and Japanese yen falling, but there is no sign of panic in the South Korean capital.

This western maritime border, also known as the Northern Limit Line, has been the scene of numerous clashes in the past.

In March, a South Korean warship went down near the border with the loss of 46 lives. International investigators say a North Korean torpedo sank the ship, although Pyongyang has denied any role in the incident.

Since then relations between the two neighbours have remained tense.

[KimJongIl]

All big mistake!

I sing along to 'Smoke On The Water' and for Happy Tuesday Surprise National Kim Day my friends decide to smoke ater.

See?

Total innocent error of one now dead general and all his family.

Not representive of Juche ideal.

Maybe not good for false Korea below me Olympic bid too.

Germans pay me well for this I think.

[LuigiVercotti]

Just in case DPRK TV doesn't get the chance to show the official story behind Kim's decision to take some pot shots south of the DMZ...

[micheal_warren]

This is very concerning... The North Koreans are so unpredictable. Any more escalation of this will have dire consequences.

[Faster]

Korean diplomate: We want to end this ****, please don't interfere

Chinese diplomate: Absolutely not

Korean diplomate: Please, we promise we won't be an American puppet anymore

Chinese diplomate: Do you think I fell off the daikon cart yesterday

Korean diplomate: What's the point of spending all this money on an army to finally finish the Korean War when you won't let us play?

Chinese dipolmate: Your issue.

[memorabilia]

What could be the impact of this war on the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bid and the 2018 Pyeonchang WOG Bid ????

[Scotguy]

The South Korea bid team looking to host the 2022 World Cup says it does not think the exchange of artillery shells between North and South Korea will harm its bid chances.

Instead they think it could focus the eyes of the international community on a part of the world that does not receive much global attention.

The bid is dubbed "Passion that Unites" and could feature games in North Korea.

The winning hosts of both the 2018 and 2022 Cups will be named next month.

The South Korea delegation believes the goals of their bid may now gain an extra focus.

"Only last week Fifa President Sepp Blatter said our bid has the power to bring North and South Koreans closer together," says South Korean bid team member Hyo Jin Ahn.

"We are not trying to make money out of hosting the World Cup, we are trying to unite people and bring peace to the peninsula."

Decision soonThe South Korean bid team is hosting a stand at the Soccerex football business seminar in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where they have been promoting their application, and, in Mr Ahn's words "showing the Brazilians and rest of the world that we are passionate about football".

Fifa executive committee members meet in Zurich on 2 December to name the hosts of the 2022 World Cup, with the South Koreans up against Japan, Qatar, the US and Australia.

"I don't think this incident will make a negative impact on our bid," says Mr Ahn, who studied at college in Reading, Berkshire.

And he said that if South Korea were chosen as host for 2022 the way would then be open to start discussions with North Korea about their hosting of some games."But it does show the need for peace and anything which can help bring this about, so this [incident] may possibly have a positive outcome."

South Korean bid committee chairman Han Sung-Joo has previously said the World Cup would be a good way to accelerate investment in both countries, particularly North Korea.

Last week Mr Blatter said football had the power to "make a step forward" in helping to unite people on the peninsula.

[FYI]

What could be the impact of this war on the 2018/2022 FIFA World Cup bid and the 2018 Pyeonchang WOG Bid ????

None (other than the World Cup bid, which they weren't getting anyway).

If the 2014 Winter Games are going to be played in just as volatile part of the world (if not moreso), what's a few shellings on the Korean Peninsula.

[SkiFreak]

Jong-Il's way of stimulating the economy.

Time for a M*A*S*H reunion special.

Anyone ever see the Vice Guide to North Korea? This thing is worth a watch Here's part 1 of 14:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ixGYzbLz0

[Sir Rols]

Time for a M*A*S*H reunion special.

That makes sense - it's a plot by Alan Alda!

[SkiFreak]

That makes sense - it's a plot by Alan Alda!

Jamie Farr's gotta eat!