South Korea fires artillery in response to North Korea

South Korea has returned fire on North Korea after North Korean artillery shells fell into the sea off its west coast.

AP quoted a South Korean military official on March 31 as saying that residents in the area said they had to evacuate during the artillery exchange.

However, not a single piece of artillery shell from either side fell on the lands or military bases of the two countries, an official from the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

A South Korean citizen watches news of North Korea's artillery drills (AP Photo)

Kang Myeong-sung, a civilian at a shelter on Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea, which is visible from North Korea, said islanders were anxious and rushed into shelters.

Mr. Kang said he did not see any fighter planes but he could still clearly hear the explosions of artillery shells.

The exchange of artillery fire between the two countries came after Pyongyang suddenly announced it would conduct live-fire military exercises.

In recent weeks, North Korea has stepped up its threats and launched a series of ballistic missiles in protest at ongoing joint military exercises between the US and South Korea.

North Korea says the drills are a preparation for an invasion of North Korea, while the US and South Korea say they are defensive in nature.

On March 30, North Korea also threatened to conduct a fourth nuclear test. However, South Korea said there were still no clear signs that North Korea could do so.

Then, on the morning of February 31, North Korea announced that it would conduct live-fire drills in areas near the waters between the two countries. South Korea said it would respond strongly if provoked.

North Korea regularly test-fires artillery and missiles into the ocean, but it rarely announces its drills in advance.

Wee Yong-sub, deputy spokesman for the South Korean Ministry of National Defense, said that North Korea's message was hostile and deliberately increased tensions on the Korean peninsula./.

According to VOV