South Korea defies North with artillery drill

South Korea has completed live-fire drills from a frontline island bombed last month by North Korea, in defiance of the North’s threats to attack again.

The Defence Ministry said the drills took place today on Yeonpyeong Island, and an Associated Press cameraman heard the booms of artillery explosions.

South Korea says it had launched fighter jets to deter any North Korean attacks after the artillery drills started.

A Defence Ministry official said that South Korean fighters are flying a mission against possible North Korean aggression, and will be flying over South Korea during the drills.

South Korea conducted the one-day live-fire drills from this tiny enclave of fishing communities and military bases about seven miles from North Korean shores.

The island was shelled by the North after similar drills last month. Two marines and two civilians were killed.

The North considers the waters around Yeonpyeong its own territory and has threatened to retaliate for any new drills.

Residents, local officials and journalists on Yeonpyeong and four other islands were ordered to evacuate to underground bomb shelters because of possible attacks by North Korea, Ongjin County government spokesman Won Ji-young said.

The developments came after UN diplomats meeting in New York failed to find any solution to ease fears of a new war on the Korean peninsula.