S Korea artillery starts firing exercise at Yeonpyeong Island.

20/12 Tass 123

TOKYO, December 20 (Itar-Tass) - Artillery of South Korea's marines on
Monday started life firing exercises near the border island of Yeonpyeong,
to which Pyongyang has threatened to strongly retaliate.
The firing from self-propelled howitzers is reportedly conducted in an
area southwest of the island.
There have been no reports so far about North Korea's reaction.
South Korea's military confirmed the drill, delayed from the weekend
by bad weather, had begun at 05:30 GMT, Reuters reported. The rumble of
artillery fire echoed through air raid bunkers on the island of Yeonpyeong
where the exercise was being held. North Korea warned last week that it
would strike even harder if the latest drills went ahead. China and Russia
have cautioned Seoul against holding the exercise, while the United States
has backed South Korea's right to hold the drills.
-0-ezh/ast


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