North Korea has conducted live-fire artillery drills near its disputed western sea boundary, South Korean officials said.

North and South Korea fired hundreds of artillery shells into each other’s waters in a flare-up of animosity that forced residents of five frontline South Korean islands to evacuate to shelters for several hours, South Korean officials said.

A North Korean artillery launch happened minutes before a Chinese commercial plane reportedly carrying 202 people flew in the same area, South Korean officials said.

South Korea has said North Korea has fired three short-range guided missiles into its eastern waters.

North Korea said today it had entered “a state of war” with the South, in the reclusive communist state’s latest belligerent threat.

North Korea fired a long-range rocket today in a second launch under its new leader, defying warnings from the UN and Washington.