The Koreas exchange fire

North and South Korea fired artillery shells into each other's waters yesterday, forcing people on five South Korean islands on the frontline to evacuate their homes.
Early yesterday, North Korea announced that it would conduct live-fire drills in seven areas north of the Yellow Sea boundary between the nations.
South Korea responded by returning fire after North Korean shells landed in its territorial waters.
North Korea fired 500 rounds of artillery shells over more than three hours, around 100 of which fell south of the sea boundary, South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said.
South Korea responded by firing 300 shells into North Korean waters, he said.
No shells from either side were fired at any land or military installations, but Kim called the North's artillery firing a provocation aimed at testing Seoul's security posture. There was no immediate comment from North Korea.
The South Korean Defence Ministry said in a statement its military "fired back north of the border in line with ordinary protocol."
The disputed western sea boundary has been the scene of several bloody naval skirmishes between the nations in recent years, including the 2010 artillery attack on Yeonpyeong by the North.