South Korean gov't to hold emergency meeting after North Korean attack

2010-11-23 14:06:42 GMT+7 (ICT)

SEOUL (BNO NEWS) -- Top South Korean government officials are holding a crisis meeting at an underground bunker after North Korea attacked a South Korean island, officials said.

The attack began around 2.30 p.m. local time when North Korea fired more than 200 artillery shell near the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong. As many as 70 houses were reported to be on fire, injuring an unknown number of people.

Seoul confirmed it responded with artillery fire and scrambled F-16 fighter jets to respond to the sudden attack, which comes days after North Korea unveiled a vast new facility it secretly and rapidly built to enrich uranium.

South Korean government officials, including President Lee Myung-bak, were meeting at an underground bunker in Seoul to discuss how to respond to the incident. Lee said he was trying to prevent a greater conflict.

U.S. Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, the Special Representative for North Korea Policy, was already in the region to discuss North Korean issues.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-23

This is very disturbing news and should be sorted out as quickly as possible.