This provocation justifies any retaliation by us. Our military should be ready to counterattack without hesitation so as not to allow the North to commit this action again, even to the point of destroying the artillery squad that it has positioned along the tense western seacoast. It has left many casualties both in the military and among civilians, not to mention having done considerable damage to civilian properties as well.

The provocation is a direct attack against the South. That the North fired so many shells not only at a military base on the island but also at a civilian residential area is an unconscionable act. We strongly warn the North that if it still prefers to play with fire, it is soon destined to be demolished by the fire it ignited first. With our memories of the Korean War still vivid, this massive attack confirms again the grim reality that such a tragedy can be repeated at any time. The North fired the shells on the pretext of responding to our regular military exercise. With its artillery firing more than 100 shells onto Yeonpyeong Island yesterday, the intense west coast area has been put on the highest military alert ever.

North Korea’s provocation has gone beyond our imagination.

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