Korean Conflict Brewing

Just freaking great, this would be the second time in a year that North Korea launched attacks that killed people, add that to the unveiling of a massive nuclear complex and we have the makings of a full scale clusterfark:

SEOUL, South Korea — North and South Korea exchanged artillery fire on Tuesday after dozens of shells fired from the North struck a South Korean island near the countries’ disputed maritime border, South Korean military officials said. South Korean artillery batteries returned fire with about 80 rounds, the military went to “crisis status,” and fighter planes were put on alert.

Two South Korean soldiers were killed and 14 were injured, four of them seriously, said Kiyheon Kwon, an official at the Defense Ministry in Seoul. He said military personnel were checking on civilian casualties as night was falling.News reports said dozens of houses were on fire, and TV footage showed large plumes of black smoke spiraling from the island.

South Korean artillery units returned fire after the North’s shells struck South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island at 2:34 p.m., said Mr. Kwon, an official at the Defense Ministry. The North also fired numerous rounds into the Yellow Sea, he said.

A spokesman for President Lee Myung-bak said Mr. Lee gathered his security-related ministers and senior aides at a crisis meeting in the underground situation room at the Blue House, the presidential office and residence.

“We will not in any way tolerate this,” Mr. Lee’s chief spokesman, Hong Sang-pyo, said after the meeting. “Any further provocation will get an immediate and strong response and the South Korean military will strongly retaliate if there is anything further.”

Of course North Korea is simply going from bad to worse.