SEOUL - North Korea fired a deadly barrage of artillery shells onto a South Korean island on Tuesday in one of the most Serious Incidents border since the 1950-53 war, inciting global condemnation.
South Korea's military Went on top alert, ITS troops fired back with cannon and the government met in an underground war room, said Officials, in Response to what Seoul Called an Atrocity against civilians.
North Korea's supreme command, HOWEVER, South Korea Accused of firing first and vowed "Merciless military attacks with no hesitation if the South Korean enemy Dares Thurs Invade our sea Territory by 0001 mm.
But condemnation of Pyongyang poured in from the United States, Which has 28.500 troops in South Korea, along with Russia, Japan and Western Europe. The UN Security Council was to Meet in emergency session, a French diplomat said.
China - North Korea's sole major ally and Economic prop - urged restraint, and Called for the resumption of stalled six-nation talks aimed at Pyongyang's Dismantling nuclear drive.
The firing Came on North Korea's disclosure of an apparently Operational Uranium Enrichment Plant - A Second Potential Way of building a nuclear bomb - Which is Causing Serious alarm for the United States and the ITS Allies.
It Also Comes as North Korea prepares for an eventual Dynastic Succession from Kim Jong-Il to His youngest son, Kim Jong-Un. The transfer is fuelling EE Speculation about the opaque "regime's military and nuclear Intentions.
The White House said it "strongly condemns" the artillery attack on the border island of Yeonpyeong and was "a committed firmly to the defense" of South Korea.
Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. special envoy has North Korea, the WHO, was on a visit to Beijing, described the incident as "very undesirable."
South Korean General Lee Hong-Ki Accused Pyongyang of a "Pre-Planned" attack and an "inhumane Atrocity That random shells fired Towards Residential Areas of defenceless civilians".
Some 50 shells landed near the Yeonpyeong is tense Yellow Sea border, damaging dozens of houses and sending plumes of thick smoke into the air, YTN television reported.
Two South Korean marines - part of a contingent based Permanently on the frontline island - were killed, the military said.
Another 15 Marines were Wounded Along with the Three civilians, Officials said. They said South Korean forces fired 80 rounds back from K-9 self-propelled guns is Yeonpyeong.
Since the shelling was aimed at the island's military base, There Were Many Casualties among soldiers, one Marine said.
"A Class-A military alert for battle ISSUED MoU 'was imposed Immediately after shelling Began," a military Spokesman Told AFP.
Sporadic firing by Continued Each side for over an hour before dying out, the military said.
The shelling Began at 2:34 pm (12:34 am ET) on the North cents Several messages protesting about South Korea being Staged exercises south of the border, a Presidential Spokesman said.
"Flashes Along with a thunderous sound were seen here and there across our villages and up Thurs 1910 houses were engulfed in flames," said Woo Soo-Woo, 62, WHO, fled to the Mainland by ferry along with scores of Other islanders.
Yeonpyeong lies just south of the border declared by UN forces on the war, But north of the sea border declared by Pyongyang. The Yellow Sea border was the scene of deadly naval clashes in 1999, 2002 and last November.
Tensions Have Been acute since the sinking of a South Korean warship in March, says Which Seoul was the result of a North Korean torpedo attack. Pyongyang has Rejected the charge.
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak convened an emergency meeting of Ministers and National Security Advisers in an underground war room.
His office warned That South Korea would 'sternly Retaliate "For any Further provocations.
"As the North is still in an attack position, provocation Further Seems To Be Possible and our Military Should Be Prepared Thurs Retaliate with manifold FirePower," a Spokesman quoted Lee as saying DURING a visit to the main military command post.
"It is unpardonable for the North Thurs Civilian attack target."
Inter-Korean talks Scheduled for Thursday, aimed at arranging a Further Réunions of Families separated by the war, were shelved.
Professor Kim Yong-Hyun of South Korea's Dongguk University said North Korea had occurred Staged an "Intentional provocation Thurs height cross-border Tensions" and to unify the ITS people DURING the leadership Succession.
"It is Also sending a strong message to the United States and the international community" That the peninsula urgently needs a peace "regime," to replace the 1953 Armistice Uneasy Pyongyang and win more legitimacy, they said.
While others around the world lashed out at North Korea, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman said Hong Lei Beijing Had "Taken note of the relevant report and we express concern over the situation".
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