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Seoul (AFP) Dec 2, 2010 Satellite images indicate North Korea might have suffered considerable casualties when South Korea returned fire after the North shelled its frontline island last week, a lawmaker said Thursday. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) presented to parliament an image taken by the South's own satellite and another one collected by an unidentified foreign commercial satellite. Kwon Yong-Se, a ruling party lawmaker who chairs the intelligence committee, told reporters after the presentation that about 10 shells landed near the North's military positions on Mudo island. The South's shells mostly landed between two clusters of barracks about 100 metres (330 feet) apart and some came close to one of the clusters. "One of the shells hit the rear of the barracks. It is possible to assume considerable casualties occurred," Kwon said. In light of the fact that the impact circle of the South's indigenous K-9 self-propelled guns is 50 metres, the impact is believed to have been considerable, Kwon said. The North on November 23 fired up to 170 shells of which 80 hit Yeonpyeong island near the disputed Yellow Sea border, killing two civilians and two marines and wounding 18 other people. It was the first time that a civilian area in the South had been shelled since the 1950-1953 war. The attack also damaged military facilities, destroyed 29 homes and set hillsides and fields ablaze. South Korea in response fired 80 rounds from its self-propelled guns. Of these, 35 landed in the sea, 15 on Mudo island and 30 at Kaemori on the mainland, according to the NIS. Kwon's comments contrasted with earlier remarks by senior ruling party legislator Kim Moo-Sung. Kim said separately Thursday that the North's artillery positions at Kaemori apparently escaped unscathed -- citing other satellite images published by global intelligence company Stratfor. "(When South Koreans fired back) North Korean artillery guns had already slid back into tunnels and even a single shell did not reach the target" at Kaemori, Kim was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency. The South's military and government has been widely criticised for its allegedly feeble response to the North's attack. The defence minister announced last week he would resign. The South is sending multiple rocket launchers and more guns, along with extra troops, to Yeonpyeong and to four other frontline islands.
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Satellite images show S.Korean shelling ineffectiveSeoul (AFP) Dec 2, 2010 Claims by Seoul's military that its counter-fire hit North Korea hard after the North shelled a South Korean border island were called into question by satellite images published Thursday. Military officials, trying to deflect charges they responded feebly to the deadly November 23 attack on Yeonpyeong island, have said their return fire was believed to have caused considerable damage. B ... read more |
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