North Korea Fires Artillery Shells In ‘Grave Warning’ to Seoul

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Facts

  • A spokesman for the Korean People's Army (KPA) for North Korea confirmed that Pyongyang fired 100 more artillery shells off its west coast on Wednesday. The North claimed this move was in response to Seoul's firing of multiple rocket launchers near the border of both nations and characterized its response as a "grave warning."
  • This development comes after the North test-fired about 250 rounds of artillery from its east and west coasts on Tuesday.
  • Pyongyang has claimed to have adopted these "powerful military countermeasures" to warn against South Korea's drills, urging its enemies to immediately stop "provocative acts" that have allegedly raised tensions on the Peninsula.
  • This marks the second time since last Friday that the North has been accused of breaking a 2018 inter-Korean agreement that established maritime buffer zones between the countries to curb hostilities at the frontline.
  • On Monday, the South began its annual two-week "Hoguk" defense exercises with some US troops taking part to enhance interoperability amid rising tensions.
  • Pyongyang has test-fired 15 missiles since resuming testing activities on Sept. 25, including an intermediate-range ballistic missile that passed over Japan and was capable of reaching the US territory of Guam.

Sources: Reuters, NK News, Korea Joongang Daily, Al Jazeera, Korea Times, and Associated Press.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by Red State. You cannot blame Kim Jong-un for flexing North Korea’s military muscle when Biden is recklessly saber-rattling with Taiwan and China. How does Kim know the US will not also team up with South Korea for an invasion of the North? Trump's relationship with and policies towards North Korea maintained stability in the Korean Peninsula.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by MSNBC. Kim Jong-Un's geopolitical actions have been erratic, and his missile launches are destabilizing the Peninsula. Instead of provoking a confrontation, Kim should take the Biden administration up on its offer to meet without preconditions, and settle any of his grievances peacefully. Biden is showing strength and prudence in the region.

Predictions