S.Korea to go ahead with fire drill despite N.Korea threat

[Casino67]

AFP:

SEOUL — South Korea's military said it would go ahead with a live-fire drill on a border island bombarded by North Korea last month, despite the North's threat to strike back again with deadlier firepower.
But an AFP photographer on Yeonpyeong island said the atmosphere was calm and a media report said the one-day training exercise -- scheduled for sometime between Saturday and Tuesday -- may be delayed till next week.

"There is no change in our stance with regards to the live-fire exercise," a defence ministry spokesman told AFP. "We cannot confirm... whether we will carry out the exercise today."

The North threatened Friday to "deal the second and third unpredictable self-defensive blow" if the artillery exercise goes ahead.

"It will be deadlier than what was made on November 23 in terms of the powerfulness and sphere of the strike," it said.

Pyongyang disputes the Yellow Sea border drawn after the 1950-53 war and claims the waters around Yeonpyeong and other frontline islands as its own maritime territory.

The November 23 bombardment killed two marines and two civilians and damaged dozens of homes. It came after a firing drill into the sea by South Korean marines based on the island.

The North's latest warning sharply raised the stakes in the regional crisis.

Russia urged South Korea not to go ahead with the exercise and China, the North's sole major ally, said it opposed any action that would raise tensions.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun summoned South Korea's ambassador Yu Woo-Ik Friday afternoon to express concern at the planned drill, Yonhap news agency quoted a diplomatic source as saying.

South Korea, outraged at the first shelling of civilian areas since the war, has fortified Yeonpyeong with more troops and artillery and vowed to use air power against any future attack.
Its military has said artillery will be aimed away from the North as usual during the upcoming drill, but it would respond strongly if provoked.
But a military source quoted by Yonhap said the firing might be delayed a day or two.

"Weather conditions are the most important factor in deciding the time for a drill. Early next week will be the most likely time to hold it because the weather should improve," the source said.
Asked why weather was a factor, a military spokesman cited comments by a government source in Chosun Ilbo newspaper.


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What I tried to say in the caption, now both countries have to 'save face' and do what they say they will do.

Can't see China allowing NK to go to war. Has China lost control of the idiots? I don't think NK really has anything to lose. Hell, they don't have anything as it is.

[Rokke]

After all these years, it would be kind of ironic if what prompted Korean War part II was a live fire exercise. But I think you're right. Neither side can back down now. The real question will be how far they are willing to go.

[Casino67]

N.Korea Deploys Rocket Launchers Along West Coast

 

North Korea has deployed multiple rocket launchers along the shore north of Yeonpyeong, Baeknyeong and Gangwha islands in response to a planned South Korean artillery drill on Yeonpyeong, government sources here say. The North earlier threatened an "unpredicted self-defense counterattack" to the drills.

 

A South Korean government source said, "After making the threat in a message sent Friday, North Korea raised the alert level at artillery divisions on the west coast and deployed the multiple rocket launchers." The source added the South Korean military is monitoring the situation.

 

The North also reportedly made coastal artillery ready to fire and put some fighter jets on the west coast on standby.

(Source)

[Casino67]

W7VOA

 

Most likely window for the #ROK artillery drill is between 90 minutes and 2.5 hours from now. Posted at 9:35PM EST.

 

 

W7VOA

 

AFP photog: Civilians on Yeonpyeong told to take shelter within 30 mins.