What happened
South Korea held military drills on Yeonpyeong Island today. The drills lasted for two hours, and involved howitzers, mortars and attack helicopters. The North Korean government described the exercises as provokation. An official statement from the government-run media outlet stated:
“This is a very dangerous play with fire to ignite a war against the North as it is a clear declaration of war against it”
Background
Yeonpyeong Island is an island that North and South Korea have long contested custody of. In 2010, a North Korean artillery attack killed four South Korean citizens there. Also in 2010, attacks on nearby Baengnyeong sunk a South Korean warship, resulting in the loss of 46 lives.
Geography
Yeonpyeong Island is only 8 miles from the North Korean border. It houses 2,000 residents, and 1,000 soldiers.
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South Korean activists sending warm socks to North Korea via balloons.
South Korean army soldiers bow to respect their ancestors as they celebrate lunar new year at their base near the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas in Cheorwon, South Korea on January 23, 2012. (Kag Un Na-rye/Yonhap/Associated Press) #
Celebrating the Lunar New Year by sending Choco Pie across the border: Former North Korean defectors living in South Korea release balloons carrying snacks in Ganghwa near the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas on January 20, 2012. About 100 kgs of Choco Pie, the thick wafer-like confection made in the South but also popular in the North and abroad, were launched by 20 large balloons across the border. (Yonhap/AFP/Getty Images) #
