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North Korea's Artillery Attack on the South

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North Korea Shells the South

Firefighters from the Incheon Fire and Safety Management Department inspecting the damage caused by the artillery shells fired by North Korea on November 24 in Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea.
Photo: Getty Images

North Korea fired scores of artillery shells at a South Korean island last Tuesday, killing two soldiers and two civilians, in one of the heaviest attacks on its neighbor since the Korean War ended in 1953.

The incident followed revelations that Pyongyang is fast developing another source of material to make atomic bombs, prompting international condemnation of the act and unsettling diplomatic nerves in the region and throughout the world.

Countries are picking sides: U.S. has vowed to standby Seoul, while all eyes are on how China will balance its role as North Korea's only major ally, amid international pressure to punish its Pyongyang for the attack.

Back on the tiny island of Yeonpyeong, the site of the shelling, hundreds of civilians have fled their homes - many in ruins – vowing never to return.

These are images captured from the attack.

By: CNBC.com
Posted 25 November 2010

North Korea Shells the South

Smoke rises from South Korea's Yeonpyeong island near the border against North Korea, after dozens of artillery shells fired by Pyongyang hit the South Korean isle, killing four people and prompting return fire from South Korean forces.
Photo: Getty Images

Smoke rises from South Korea's Yeonpyeong island near the border against North Korea, after dozens of artillery shells fired by Pyongyang hit the South Korean isle, killing four people and prompting return fire from South Korean forces.

North Korea Shells the South

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak receives a briefing at the control center of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Defence Ministry November 23, 2010 in Seoul, South Korea.
Photo: Getty Images

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak receives a briefing at the control center of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Defence Ministry November 23, 2010 in Seoul, South Korea.

North Korea Shells the South

Firefighters and fire trucks board a ship to go to Yeonpyeong island near the border with North Korea on November 23, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.
Photo: Getty Images

Firefighters and fire trucks board a ship to go to Yeonpyeong island near the border with North Korea on November 23, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.

North Korea Shells the South

Firefighters extinguishing a fire after the damage caused by the artillery shells fired by North Korea on November 24 in Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea.
Photo: Getty Images

Firefighters extinguishing a fire after the damage caused by the artillery shells fired by North Korea in Yeonpyeong Island, South Korea.

North Korea Shells the South

A South Korean navy ship sails into port as the evacuation of residents and the delivery of relief supplies to the nearby island of Yeonpyeong on November 24, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.
Photo: Getty Images

A South Korean navy ship sails into Incheon's port in preparation for  delivery of relief supplies to Yeonpyeong island and the evacuation of residents.

North Korea Shells the South

Coast guard officers and police patrol as South Korean navy and police ships are loaded with relief supplies bound for villagers of Yeonpyeong Island at a port on November 24, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.
Photo: Getty Images

Coast guard officers and police patrol a port on in Incheon, South Korea, as navy and police ships are loaded with relief supplies bound for villagers of Yeonpyeong Island.

North Korea Shells the South

Survivors of the artillery exchange between North and South Korea arrive at Incheon port from Yeonpyeong Island on November 24, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.
Photo: Getty Images

Survivors of the artillery shelling from Yeonpyeong Island arrive at Incheon port, South Korea .

North Korea Shells the South

South Korean coast guards carry relief goods onto a police ship which will depart to Yeonpyeong island from a port on November 24, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.

South Korean coast guards carry relief goods onto a police ship which will depart to Yeonpyeong island from a port on November 24, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.

North Korea Shells the South

Survivor of the artillery exchange between North and South Korea show their emotion after arriving at Incheon port from Yeonpyeong Island on November 24, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.

Survivor of the artillery exchange between North and South Korea show their emotion after arriving at Incheon port from Yeonpyeong Island on November 24, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.

North Korea Shells the South

Survivors of the artillery exchange between North and South Korea arrive at Incheon port from Yeonpyeong Island on November 24, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.
Photo: Getty Images

Survivors of the artillery exchange between North and South Korea arrive at Incheon port from Yeonpyeong Island on November 24, 2010 in Incheon, South Korea.

North Korea Shells the South

Residents of Yeonpyeong Island are seen inside the Yeonpyeong bomb shelter.
Photo: Getty Images

Residents of Yeonpyeong Island are seen inside a bomb shelter, after the deadly shelling from North Korea.

North Korea Shells the South

South Korean soldiers wait to leave the terminal of Incheon port, west of Seoul on November 25, 2010 to reinforce nearby Yeonpyeong island two days after it was shelled by North Korea. South Korea on November 24 pulled the bodies of two civilians from wreckage left by North Korea's bombardment of a border island, fueling calls for revenge on what one newspaper called a "mad dog" regime.
Photo: Yoshikazu Tsuno | AFP | Getty Images

South Korean soldiers wait to leave the terminal of Incheon port, west of Seoul on November 25, 2010 to reinforce nearby Yeonpyeong island two days after it was shelled by North Korea. South Korea on November 24 pulled the bodies of two civilians from wreckage left by North Korea's bombardment of a border island, fueling calls for revenge on what one newspaper called a "mad dog" regime.

North Korea Shells the South

South Korean activists burn a North korean national flag and portraits of Kim Jung-Il and Kim Jung-Un during a protest outside the Defense Ministry in Seoul, denouncing North Korea's attack on the border island.

South Korean activists burn a North korean national flag and portraits of Kim Jung-Il and Kim Jung-Un during a protest outside the Defense Ministry in Seoul, denouncing North Korea's attack on the border island.