2010 Yeonpyeong bombardment: Difference between revisions

{{Campaignbox Korean Cold War}}

 

 

[[Shell (projectile)|Shelling]] caused widespread damage on Yeonpyeong. South Korea retaliated by shelling North Korean gun positions. In total, between four and 20 people (military personnel and civilians) were killed on both sides and approximately 40–55 people were wounded.

The North Koreans subsequently stated that they had fired in response to South Korean artillery firing into North Korean [[territorial waters]].<ref name=kcna-20101123>{{Cite news |url=http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2010/201011/news23/20101123-19ee.html |title=KPA Supreme Command Issues Communique |publisher=[[Korean Central News Agency]] |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=2010-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127010627/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2010/201011/news23/20101123-19ee.html |archive-date=2010-11-27}}</ref>

 

 

==Background==

{{further|Division of Korea}}

 

[[North Korea]] did not dispute or violate the line until 1973.<ref name=fact>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AM2O820101123|title=Factbox: What is the Korean Northern Limit Line?|newspaper=Reuters|date=23 November 2010}}</ref> The NLL was drawn up at a time when a three-nautical-mile territorial waters limit was the norm, but when in the 1970s a twelve nautical mile limit became internationally accepted, the implementation of the NLL prevented North Korea, in areas, from accessing, arguably actual or prospective, territorial waters.<ref name=kotch-2003 /><ref name=38north-20100729>{{cite web |url=http://www.38north.org/?p=1232 |title=The Maritime boundary between North & South Korea in the Yellow (West) Sea |author=Jon Van Dyke | work=[[38 North]] |publisher=U.S.-Korea Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies |date= 29 July 2010 |access-date= 28 November 2010}}</ref> Later, after 1982, it also hindered North Korea establishing a [[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea]] [[Exclusive Economic Zone]] to control fishing in the area.<ref name=kotch-2003 />

 

In an effort to assert its territorial claims, North Korea has pursued a strategy of challenging South Korean control of the waters south of the NLL. It has made [[Korean maritime border incidents|several incursions]] that have sparked clashes between the two sides, notably a [[First Battle of Yeonpyeong|naval battle near Yeonpyeong island]] in 1999 as well as [[Second Battle of Yeonpyeong|another engagement in the same area]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/nll.htm |title=Northern Limit Line (NLL) West Sea Naval Engagements |publisher=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=2010-11-23}}</ref> Although there were no further serious clashes for a time, in 2009 increasing tensions along the disputed border led to a [[Battle of Daecheong|naval battle near the island of Daecheong]], and accusations that a North Korean submarine had [[ROKS Cheonan sinking|sunk the South Korean corvette ''Cheonan'']] off [[Baengnyeong Island]] in March 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/12/AR2009111203773.html |title=North Korea says naval skirmish was 'planned provocation' by South |first=Blaine |last=Harden |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=12 November 2009 |access-date=2010-11-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ryall |first=Julian |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/8106770/North-Koreas-investigation-into-sinking-of-Cheonan-decries-conspiratorial-farce.html |title=North Korea's investigation into sinking of Cheonan decries 'conspiratorial farce' |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=3 November 2010 |access-date=2010-11-23 |location=London}}</ref>

 

Days before the incident, the North Korean government revealed their [[Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center|new uranium enrichment facility]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurasiareview.com/analysis/9787-north-korea-construction-of-nuclear-power-plant |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122212451/http://www.eurasiareview.com/analysis/9787-north-korea-construction-of-nuclear-power-plant |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-22 |title=North Korea – Construction of Nuclear Power Plant. |publisher=Eurasia Review |access-date=2010-11-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2010%2F11%2F21%2Fbloomberg1376-LC7WCB0UQVI901-29Q98QGU2IDJO5F66CH3IR4JDI.DTL |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909233552/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/11/21/bloomberg1376-LC7WCB0UQVI901-29Q98QGU2IDJO5F66CH3IR4JDI.DTL |archive-date=9 September 2012 |title=US envoy: N Korea nuclear plant 'provocative' |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=21 November 2010 |access-date=2010-11-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref> prompting the South Korean government to consider requesting that the [[United States]] station [[tactical nuclear weapon]]s in South Korea for the first time in 19 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/news/South-Korea-Could-Seek-Deployment-of-US-Tactical-Nuclear-Weapons-109819069.html |title=VOANews "S. Korea Could Seek Deployment of US Tactical Nuclear Weapons" 22 November 2010 |publisher=Voice of America |access-date=2010-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125141401/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/South-Korea-Could-Seek-Deployment-of-US-Tactical-Nuclear-Weapons-109819069.html |archive-date=25 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On the same day, South Korea and the United States began the annual [[Hoguk exercise]], a large-scale military drill involving the South Korean and US militaries. The 2010 exercise involved 70,000 troops from all four branches of the South Korean military, equipped with 600 tracked vehicles, 90 helicopters, 50 warships, and 500 aircraft. The United States contributed its [[31st Marine Expeditionary Unit]] and the [[Seventh Air Force]] to the land and sea elements of the exercise.<ref name="combinedarms">Son, Won-je. "[http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/450424.html Experts cite succession and diplomatic pressure following artillery fire]". The Hankyoreh, 2010-11-24</ref>

At 14:34 local time, North Korean coastal artillery batteries on Mudo, and a recently redeployed 122-mm [[Multiple rocket launcher|MRL]] at Kaemori,<ref name="Military knew">[http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/11/26/2010112600954.html Military Knew of N.Korean Artillery Move Before Attack]. ''Chosun Ilbo'', 2010-11-26.</ref> in North Korea's [[South Hwanghae Province]], opened fire on the island of Yeonpyeong. The bombardment took place in two waves, from 14:34 to 14:55 and again from 15:10 to 15:41. Many of the shells landed on a military camp, but others hit the island's principal settlement, destroying numerous homes and shops, and starting fires.<ref name="Seoul Warns">[http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/11/24/2010112400306.html Seoul Warns of 'Severe Punishment' Over N.Korean Attack]. ''Chosun Ilbo'', 2010-11-24.</ref> About 108 shells were fired total, according to a North Korean defector who had served in an artillery battery.<ref name="unlikely damage"/>

 

 

South Korean [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|KF-16]] and [[McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle|F-15K]] jets were also scrambled to the area, though they did not engage North Korean targets, as the North Korean artillery did not start a third barrage.<ref name=":0" /> South Korean counterstrikes ended at 16:42.<ref name="North Korea shells southern">"[http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2928751 North Korea shells southern island, two fatalities reported]". ''JoonAng Daily'', 2010-11-23.</ref> It was the first artillery battle to take place between North and South Korea since the 1970s<ref>Kwon, Hyuk-chul. "[http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/450423.html President Lee has changed his position from controlled response to manifold retaliation"]. ''The Hankyoreh'', 2010-11-24.</ref> and was seen as one of the most serious attacks by the North on the South since the 1953 Armistice.<ref>"[http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=050000&biid=2010112430388 NK fires shells onto S. Korean island, kills 2 Marines]". ''The Dong-a Ilbo'', 2010-11-24.</ref>

[[Category:2010 building bombings]]

[[Category:Building bombings in Asia]]