Publication

On 23 November 2010, North Korea (DPRK) attacked South Korea (ROK), by firing an estimated 200 artillery shells onto Yeonpyeong island just seven miles off DPRK, killing two ROK marines and wounding at least 19 others. This is the second attack within 8 months, on the heels of DPRK torpedoing and sinking the ROK corvette Cheonan on 26 March and killing 46 sailors. DPRK and ROK are technically still at war, having signed an armistice in 1953 but no treaty in the Korean War. It appears that DPRK is ratcheting up the beat of its war drums, since sinking a military vessel is an act of war by international law, followed by deliberate shelling of military installations on Yeonpyeong island.