Fears on rise among South Korean island residents
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
SEOUL, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) : Fears are running high again among residents of Yeonpyeong Island as the South Korean military launched live-fire drills in the waters off all three coasts of the Korean Peninsula, according to local media Monday.
Yeonpyeong Island bombarded by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Nov. 23 has been excluded from this week's drills, but firing will take place off Daecheong Island, one of five major islands near the Yellow Sea border.
Although the waters off the shelled island are not among the venues of the naval firing drills, worries about the possibility of more friction remain high among residents of the island. "It gives me slight relief that drills are not taking place around Yeonpyeong or Baeknyeong Islands, but I'm still anxious," Shin Yu-taek, a 70-year-old resident of Yeonpyeong Island was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.
"Not conducting drills here can't guarantee the DPRK will not launch another firing," said Shin.
Some complained about drills scheduled to take place off Daecheong Island.
"Like Yeonpyeong, Daecheong is also among five major islands near the Yellow Sea border, so there is no big difference ( conducting drills there instead of here)," Yonhap quoted another resident, identified only by his last name Kim, as saying.
Yeonpyeong Island bombarded by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Nov. 23 has been excluded from this week's drills, but firing will take place off Daecheong Island, one of five major islands near the Yellow Sea border.
Although the waters off the shelled island are not among the venues of the naval firing drills, worries about the possibility of more friction remain high among residents of the island. "It gives me slight relief that drills are not taking place around Yeonpyeong or Baeknyeong Islands, but I'm still anxious," Shin Yu-taek, a 70-year-old resident of Yeonpyeong Island was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.
"Not conducting drills here can't guarantee the DPRK will not launch another firing," said Shin.
Some complained about drills scheduled to take place off Daecheong Island.
"Like Yeonpyeong, Daecheong is also among five major islands near the Yellow Sea border, so there is no big difference ( conducting drills there instead of here)," Yonhap quoted another resident, identified only by his last name Kim, as saying.