Koreas exchange fire in territorial waters

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.

The exchange of fire into the Yellow Sea followed Pyongyang’s sudden announcement that it would conduct live-fire drills in seven areas north of the Koreas’ disputed maritime boundary. North Korea routinely test-fires artillery and missiles into the ocean but rarely discloses those plans in advance. The announcement was seen as an expression of Pyongyang’s frustration at making little progress in its recent push to win outside aid.

North Korea fired 500 rounds of artillery shells over more than three hours, about 100 of which fell south of the sea boundary, South Korean ministry of defence spokesman Kim Min-seok said. South Korea responded by firing 300 shells into North Korean waters, he said.