N. Korea Threatens More Attacks on the South

On Thursday South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that exercises will take place in the seas southwest of Yeonpyeong Island, on a day between December 18 and 21. On Friday North Korea warned the South that it would launch a military strike if the drill take place as planned.

The naval fire drills are set to take place in the same area that spurred last month’s exchange of fire. In November the North warned Seoul to stop military drills near the long disputed military border. Seoul refused to halt their drills and continued firing artillery into disputed waters, but away from shore. In retaliation the North began shelling the small island of Yeonpyeong – a South Korean territory that is home to a military station and a small civilian population. The shelling killed two South Korean Marines and two civilians, it also left 15 South Korean troops and three civilians injured. The attack was the first direct artillery assault on South Korea since 1953.

On Friday through the state-run KCNA, North Korea warned they would “deal the second and third unpredictable self-defensive blow” at the South, to protect North Korean waters.

The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff expressed their concern that North Korea might take advantage of an opportunity to attack.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry also urged the South to halt the military exercises “to prevent further escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.”

The disputed maritime border between North and South Korea in the West Sea

A: United Nations-created Northern Limit Line, 1953

B: North Korea-declared Military Demarcation Line, 1999

The locations of specific islands are reflected in the configuration of each maritime boundary, including:
1–Yeonpyeong Island
2–Baengnyeong Island
3–Daecheong Island