South Korea has issued an evacuation order for two islands near its border with North Korea.
The decision comes in the wake of a recent artillery attack by North Korea, during which approximately 200 rounds were fired into the maritime buffer zone near one of the islands. This incident occurred near Yeonpyeong-do, an area that has seen ongoing tensions since the end of the Korean War. The South Korean government holds North Korea accountable for this attack.
The evacuation order has been prompted by a previous shelling incident that took place in November 2010. At that time, North Korea targeted civilian settlements on Yeonpyeong-do, resulting in casualties. In response, the South Korean military conducted its own artillery live fire exercise in the same waters.
This latest incident is viewed as part of North Korea’s continued provocations and is seen as a response to military actions taken by South Korea. Two possible interpretations of the incident have been proposed. One suggests that North Korea seeks attention amidst other global conflicts, while the other speculates that China may be orchestrating a crisis to divert US attention from Taiwan. However, it is important to note that further information is needed to determine the true nature of the incident.
