S Korea shells North after rocket attack

AFP, SEOUL: South Korea yesterday fired dozens of shells into North Korea after detecting a rocket fired across the heavily-militarised border from the North, Seoul’s defence ministry said. The exchange of fire came at a time of elevated cross-border tensions, following mine blasts that maimed two members of a South Korean border patrol earlier this month and the launch this week of a major South Korea-US military exercise. A ministry spokesman said South Korea had detected a rocket fired from the North Korean side across a western section of the border shortly before 4:00pm (0700 GMT). “It landed on our side, but struck no military target,” the spokesman told AFP, adding there were no apparent casualties or damage. South Korean military units retaliated by launching “dozens of rounds of 155mm shells” targeting the site from which the rocket was believed to have been launched, the ministry said in a statement. “We have strengthened our military readiness and are closely watching movements of the North’s military,” the statement said.

S Korea shells North after rocket attack

AFP, SEOUL: South Korea yesterday fired dozens of shells into North Korea after detecting a rocket fired across the heavily-militarised border from the North, Seouls defence ministry said. The exchange of fire came at a time of elevated cross-border tensions, following mine blasts that maimed two members of a South Korean border patrol earlier this month and the launch this week of a major South Korea-US military exercise. A ministry spokesman said South Korea had detected a rocket fired from the North Korean side across a western section of the border shortly before 4:00pm (0700 GMT). It landed on our side, but struck no military target, the spokesman told AFP, adding there were no apparent casualties or damage. South Korean military units retaliated by launching dozens of rounds of 155mm shells targeting the site from which the rocket was believed to have been launched, the ministry said in a statement. We have strengthened our military readiness and are closely watching movements of the Norths military, the statement said.