After Seoul began its yearly defence exercises intended to strengthen its capacity to counter the North’s nuclear and missile threats, North Korea launched artillery shells late on Tuesday off its east and west coasts, according to the South Korean military.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff of the South stated in a statement on Wednesday that North Korea launched about 100 shells into the sea off its west coast around 10 p.m. (1300 GMT) and another 150 rounds off its east coast.
Later, North Korea claimed that the shots were intended as a “grave warning” to South Korea in retaliation for the latter’s Tuesday between 9:55 a.m. and 5:22 p.m. launching of dozens of artillery shells.
According to the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army (KPA), the South’s “war exercise against the north is going on in a frenetic manner.”
According to a statement made public by state media KCNA, it “made sure that KPA units on the east and west fronts conducted a threatening, warning firing toward the east and west seas in the night of Oct. 18 in order to issue a serious warning once again.”
The opponents must halt their rash and provocative provocations that are raising the military tension in the front lines right away.
The Hoguk drills, due to end on Saturday, are the latest in a series of military exercises by South Korea in recent weeks, including joint activities with the United States and Japan.
