Tension escalates in Asia: North Korea fires 200 artillery shells near South Korean islands

North Korea fired about 200 artillery shells on Friday near two South Korean islands that had to be evacuated. Seoul warned that these actions “threaten peace” in the region. The North Korean military fired about 200 rounds of fire in the areas of Jangsan-got, northeast of Bangnyeong Island, and areas north of Yeonpyeong Island,” the South Korean Defense Ministry said. Residents of the two South Korean islands were ordered to evacuate. It is one of the most serious military escalations on the Korean peninsula since Pyongyang fired a series of projectiles in 2010.Later, the South Korean Defense Ministry denounced in a statement “an act of provocation that threatens peace on the Korean peninsula.” We sternly warn that North Korea bears full responsibility for this escalating crisis and strongly call on it to immediately cease these actions,” the ministry added in a statement quoted by the news agency AFP.La largest escalation in decadesAfter the naval artillery exercises, which North Korea called a “natural response” to maneuvers carried out by its neighbor, China, which is North Korea’s main international backer, called for “restraint” from all sides and asked them to “refrain from taking measures that aggravate tension, prevent further escalation of the situation and create conditions for the resumption of serious dialogue.” Relations between the two Koreas are at a time of tension not seen in decades, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inscribed the country’s vocation as a nuclear power in the constitution and tested several intercontinental ballistic missiles. At a year-end political meeting, Kim warned of a nuclear attack by the South and called for strengthening the military arsenal in the face of a conflict he said could “erupt at any moment.” Hours before the projectile fires, Kim called for increased production of missile launchers in preparation for a “military confrontation” with South Korea and the United States.Last September, the United States and South Korea accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia for use in the full-scale invasion in exchange for satellite technology. following a meeting between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Original source in Spanish