North Korea conducted military drills along the country’s west coast for a third consecutive day, according to a government agency. The report, attributed to Yonhap News and referencing the Armed Forces of the DPRK, describes activity in the northern area of Yeonpyeongdo island, which sits in the Yellow Sea near the maritime border with South Korea. The report notes that a unit from South Korea’s armed forces was mobilized to respond with retaliatory measures, illustrating the ongoing exchange of artillery and the heightened state of alert along this contested waterway.
Residents were advised to exercise extra caution while moving through urban areas and along main thoroughfares. The artillery fire reportedly began around 16:00 local time, aligning with 10:00 Moscow time, and the agency emphasized that no North Korean projectiles landed within South Korean territory during this particular barrage. The situation remained tense as both sides monitored the evolving battlefield landscape and maintained communication to prevent misunderstandings or accidental escalations.
On the morning of January 5, reports indicate North Korea fired roughly 200 artillery shells toward the South. In response, South Korean authorities initiated evacuations of residents on Yeonpyeongdo Island to reduce civilian exposure to potential further rounds. The maritime authorities described the impact zone as the northern maritime buffer area just beyond the de facto sea boundary between the two nations in the Yellow Sea, signaling a deliberate attempt to constrain the conflict to sea space while limiting risk to commercial and civilian traffic. In retaliation, South Korea discharged approximately 400 artillery rounds, marking a sizable escalation and illustrating the reciprocal nature of the exchanges between the two sides.
By January 6, it was reported that North Korea had launched more than 60 additional artillery shells near the same border region, sustaining the pattern of coastal bombardments. Across the tense line, naval patrols and air reconnaissance intensified as both sides sought to deter further incursions while simultaneously conveying readiness to respond to any new provocations. The international community closely observed these developments, emphasizing the importance of deconfliction and the pursuit of diplomatic channels to calm the situation amid volatile regional dynamics.
In related coverage, it was noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his daughter Kim Ju-ae visited a facility associated with mobile ballistic missile launcher production. The visit appeared to underscore a renewed emphasis on strategic weapons development within the country and served to signal to regional observers that Pyongyang remains focused on expanding its missile capabilities. Analysts characterized the visit as part of North Korea’s broader messaging strategy, combining demonstrations of military capability with procedural visits that project continuity of leadership and resolve amid external pressures and sanctions.