SOUTH KOREA/NORTH KOREA: South Korea remembers the four victims killed in the North Korean shelling of Yeonpyeong Island two years ago

Record ID: 353731

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA/NORTH KOREA: South Korea remembers the four victims killed in the North Korean shelling of Yeonpyeong Island two years ago
  • Date: 23rd November 2012
  • Summary: KIM SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PRIME MINISTER KIM HWANG-SIK SAYING: "The government's determination is stronger than ever. Our president's visit to Yeonpyeong Island last month was an expression of that determination."
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Democratic People's Republic of, Korea, Republic of
  • City:
  • Country: Korea, Democratic People's Republic of
  • Topics: Conflict,History,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ODV8X1KRNLOK45QU859JB4VP
  • Story Text: South Korea on Friday (November 23) remembered those killed in North Korea's shelling on Yeonpyeong Island in 2010.
    Four people died in the attack, including two civilians
    About 4,000 people, including government officials, navy officers and relatives of the victims, gathered at Seoul's War Memorial on Friday.
    "The Yeonpyeong Island shelling was the worst provocation by North Korea since the armistice in 1953. It was a violent act that directly attacked our territory brutally and indiscriminately towards soldiers and civilians," said Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik during his speech at the ceremony.
    President Lee Myung-bak visited Yeonpyeong island last month, the first South Korean leader to do so.
    Kim said the move showed that the government is determined to protect South Korea.
    "The government's determination is stronger than ever. Our president's visit to Yeonpyeong Island last month was an expression of that determination," he said.
    Kim Oh-bok, who lost her son, said she still mourned her loss.
    "I loved him so much. I miss him very much. I am sorry (that I did not treat him better)," she said.
    About 70 activists also held an anti-North Korea rally, burning flags of the isolated state and the portrait of leader Kim Jong-il.
    "Today is the second anniversary of Yeonpyeong Island shelling. Many South Koreans already forgot about the provocation. We are holding a rally today to let our people know North Korea can provoke us any time and we should punish them if they make the wrong decision of provoking us again," said Bong Tae-hong, a protest leader.
    North Korea on Thursday (November 22) continued its rhetoric of war threats against the South, commemorating the "victorious battle" against their southern neighbour.
    "The commemoration of the so-called victorious battle on Yeonpyeong Island will lead to the second Yeonpyeong Island disaster as long as the North Korean army is standing firm guard over the socialist homeland," the North's state-run television KRT's news reader said, quoting a spokesman for Southwestern Front Command of North Korean Army.
    North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeong island in November 2010 was the first attack on civilians since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. The two sides are technically still at war, having signed only a truce rather than a peace treaty.
    North Korea at the time said the South's military drill near the disputed sea border triggered its bombardment.
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