North Fires Over 200 Artillery Shells into the West Sea (Comprehensive)

1 Year and 1 Month Since the 2022 Gangwon-do Shooting Event

North Korean forces conducted coastal artillery firing in the northwestern island area. This marks the first time in 1 year and 1 month since December 6, 2022, when North Korean forces carried out firing drills in the Goseong and Geumgang areas of Gangwon Province.

North Korea's coastal artillery position

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that on the 5th, starting around 9 a.m., North Korean forces fired more than 200 rounds over a two-hour period in the area around Jangsan-got north of Baengnyeongdo and Deungsan-got north of Yeonpyeongdo. There were no casualties or damages to our citizens or military personnel, and the impact points were north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea, the JCS added.

The maritime buffer zone was established around the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West and East Seas to prevent maritime armed conflicts, according to the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement signed in 2018. Conducting artillery firing or maritime maneuvering drills within the maritime buffer zone constitutes a violation of the military agreement.

It is also reported that the coastal artillery gun ports on North Korea’s Galdo and Jangjaedo, located just 5 km and 7 km away from Yeonpyeongdo respectively, were both opened. Galdo is equipped with 122mm coastal artillery and was visited by North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un in 2016. Jangjaedo has 76.2mm and 122mm coastal artillery and is considered a strategic stronghold by North Korea, with Chairman Kim having visited more than four times. The Gaemori area, only 12 km from Yeonpyeongdo, was where North Korea deployed 122mm long-range artillery in 2010 to launch a surprise attack on Yeonpyeongdo. It is currently reported that 85mm coastal artillery is stationed there. Since the September 19 military agreement, North Korea had closed all coastal artillery gun ports including those on Galdo and Jangjaedo.

Meanwhile, due to North Korea’s coastal artillery firing on this day, evacuation orders were issued for residents on Baengnyeongdo and Yeonpyeongdo, the northernmost islands in the West Sea. The orders were issued twice, at 12:02 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. The passenger ferry Korea Princess, scheduled to depart from Incheon to Yeonpyeongdo at 1 p.m. that day, was also suspended. A representative from the Incheon Port Operation Management Center stated, "The ferry service was suspended due to the situation related to North Korea."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.