Brink of war? South Korea exchanges artillery fire with North Korea

Tension between North and South Korea are now at fever pitch following the incident.

16:31 31 March 2014

South Korea has returned artillery fire after North Korea sent shells over the two countries’ western sea border.  An official of South Korea’s Defence Ministry has confirmed that their shell landed in North Korean waters. Meanwhile, in a briefing, South’s Defense Ministry spokesman Wi Yong-seob confirmed that they were notified by the North’s plan of live-fire drills.

Following the artillery exchange, China has called for calm and restraint after tension in the region rose to its highest in recent months.

The North’s military exercise appeared to be sabre rattling from Pyongyang rather than a prelude to escalation. It came in the wake of the UN’s condemnation of its missile launches last week and before US Defence secretary Chuck Hagel’s visit to the region scheduled later this week.

According to a statement published by the official Korean Central News agency that was published yesterday, North Korea has fired at least 86 rockets since February 27 which include ballistic missiles banned under UN resolutions. The country’s foreign ministry defended them as part of drills to respond to annual US-South Korean military exercises.