Seoul - North Korea launched more than 200 artillery shells near two South Korean islands today, according to the Seoul defense ministry. An evacuation order was issued for residents on one of the islands.

A defense ministry official stated in a briefing, "The North Korean military conducted over 200 rounds of firing today from around 09:00 to 11:00 (1200 to 0200 GMT) in the areas of Jangsan-got in the northern part of Baengnyeong Island and the northern areas of Yeonpyeong Island."

Local officials in Yeonpyeong informed AFP that civilians were asked to evacuate as a "preventative measure."

Yeonpyeong Island, situated in the Yellow Sea, is approximately 80 kilometers west of Incheon and 12 kilometers south of the coastline of Hwanghae Province, North Korea.

In November 2010, Pyongyang unleashed a barrage of 170 artillery shells onto Yeonpyeong Island, resulting in four casualties, including two civilians, marking the first North Korean attack on a civilian area since the 1950-53 Korean War.

Relations between North and South Korea are currently strained, with North Korea solidifying its nuclear power status in the constitution, conducting multiple advanced ICBM tests. In year-end policy meetings, Kim Jong-un warned of a potential nuclear attack on the South and advocated for a military arsenal buildup ahead of a possible armed conflict, asserting that it could "break out any time."

In 2023, North Korea successfully launched a reconnaissance satellite, allegedly with assistance from Russia in exchange for arms transfers to Ukraine, as claimed by Seoul.