북한이 31일 서해 북방한계선(NLL)을 향해 발사한 수십 발의 포탄 중 일부가 NLL 남쪽 해상으로 떨어진 것으로 확인됐다.
합동참모본부는 이날 “북한의 해상사격 훈련 중 NLL 이남 지역에 (북측 포탄) 일부가 낙탄했다”며 “우리 군도 NLL 인근 이북 해상으로 K-9 자주포로 대응 사격을 실시했다”고 밝혔다.
우리 군은 NLL 남쪽 해상으로 떨어진 북한군 포탄 수만큼 NLL 북쪽 해상으로 대응사격을 한다는 방침인 것으로 알려졌다.
북한은 31일 서해 북방한계선(NLL) 인근 지역에 서 실시한 해상사격 훈련에서 총 500여발의 해안포와 방사포를 발사했고 이중 100여 발이 NLL 이남 우리 해역에 떨어진 것으로 확인됐다.
김민석 국방부 대변인은 이날 북한의 사격훈련이 끝난 직후 가진 긴급 브리핑에 서 "북한군의 해상 사격훈련은 오늘 낮 12시15분부터 오후 3시30분께까지 7개 해역 에서 8차에 걸쳐 진행됐다"며 이 같은 사실을 밝혔다.
우리 군은 북한군 포탄이 NLL 이남 해상에 떨어지자 K-9 자주포로 300여발의 대응 사격을 실시했다.
북한은 지난 2010년 8월9일에도 서해상으로 117발의 해안포를 사격했으며 이 가운데 10여 발이 백령도 북쪽 NLL 이남 1∼2㎞ 해상으로 떨어진 바 있다.
북한군의 NLL 해상사격훈련에 대비해 우리 군은 육•해•공군 합동지원세력이 비상 대기 중이다.
육군과 해병대는 화력대비태세를 유지하고 있고, 공군 전투기와 해군 함정도 초계 활동을 강화한 것으로 알려졌다. (연합)
<관련 영문 기사>
N. Korea conducts live-fire drill in western sea
North Korea began a live-fire drill near the tensely guarded western border on Monday, hours after notifying the South of its planned drills in a rare move by the communist state, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The North fired several artillery shells in waters north of the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea starting from 12:15 p.m., the JCS said.
After several rounds of the shells fell south of the NLL, the South Korean military shot dozens of artillery shells with K-9 self-propelled howitzers in response and dispatched F-15K fighter jets near the maritime border.
Residents in the northernmost island of Baengnyeong were evacuated to temporary shelters, military officials said.
The move came after the Southwestern Command of the Korean People's Army faxed South Korean Navy's Second Fleet at 8:00 a.m. to announce the fire drills in seven border regions near the western maritime border later in the day.
"North Korea demanded South Korea control its vessels in seven regions north of the NLL before it holds the live-fire drills," the JCS said. "We have banned vessels from entering the training zone for the safety of residents and sailors."
It is rare that the communist state announces a training zone that encompasses all western border regions ahead a live-fire exercise.
The South Korean military has stepped up its guard against possible clashes, looking into Pyongyang's intention behind the latest provocations.
"We consider that the North's announcement contains hostile intentions," Army Col. Wi Wong-seop, the vice defense ministry spokesman, said in a morning briefing ahead of the drill. "(North Korea) is believed to be creating a crisis situation on the Korean Peninsula by raising tensions near the western maritime border."
Seoul officials have been on high alert as some artillery shells fired by the North fell south of the NLL during a 2010 exercise.
The latest move comes as the North Korean military has been stepping up its rhetoric against annual joint drills between South Korea and the United States, firing a series of missiles and rockets in a show of force in recent weeks.
Pyongyang last week fired two mid-range ballistic missiles capable of striking Japan in the latest provocative launches, drawing condemnation from the U.N. Security Council. (Yonhap)
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