Tensions rise on Korean frontline islands

An emergency evacuation order was issued for civilians on Yeonpyeong Island at 12:02 a.m. on January 5 and again at 12:30 a.m. the same day at the request of the South Korean military. Residents of Baengnyeong Island also received an urgent evacuation order during the same time frame.

Ministry of National Defense of South Korea

In addition, three passenger ferries scheduled to depart from Incheon, Yeonpyeong Island and Baengnyeong Island at 1 p.m. on the same day were postponed. Another passenger ship en route to Baengnyeong Island returned to Incheon Port 50 minutes after departure. The Korean Coast Guard ordered six fishing boats heading to five outpost islands in the country's western waters to return to shore.

The South Korean military later said it detected artillery shells fired from Cape Jangsan and Cape Deungsan, both in the southwestern coastal area of ​​the North, between 9 and 11 a.m. yesterday. About 200 shells were fired toward the two islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong, but fell into the buffer zone near the Northern Control Line (NLL), the maritime border between the two Koreas. By noon that same day, South Korean marine units on the two islands conducted live-fire drills, using K9 self-propelled guns, targeting simulated targets in the waters south of the NLL.