Six years ago today...
South Korea's northwestern island of Yeonpyeong-do saw dozens of artillery shells rain down on
their homes and kill two soldiers and two civilians.
It was an attack from North Korea.
That was November 23rd, 2010.
It's been six years since the tragic incident... but today South Korea paused to remember those
who perished in the attack and their families.
Remembering our fallen heroes...
Our News Feature tonight with Oh Jung-hee.
November 23rd, 2010.
170 artillery shells flew from North Korea and landed on South Korea's Yeonpyeong-do
island... located south of the Northern Limit Line,... and just 110 kilometers west of the
capital Seoul.
The attack damaged military facilities and civilian structures,... leaving two soldiers
and two residents dead, with 16 more injured.
Six years later, the bombardment of Yeonpyeong-do island is still vividly recollected and is
now known as one of the worst inter-Korean clashes after the Korean War.
To honor the brave deeds and lost lives, the South Korean government placed commemorative
busts of the two fallen soldiers in each of their hometowns.
We visited Gunsan in Jeollabuk-do Province, where one of the soldiers, Moon Gwang-wook,
was born and raised,... to meet with his father and listen to his story.
"Six years might be long and even enough for people to forget this incident.
But those six years were full of pain and sorrow for us.
Our lives stopped back then, six years ago."
A visitor from Jeonju came all the way to Gunsan.
Her son is carrying out his mandatory military service on Baengnyeong-do Island -- which
is even closer to North Korea.
She touches the sculpted face of the fallen hero,... and tells us she sympathizes with
his parents.
"I was reminded of the incident a few days ago while watching television.
So I decided to come here today,... and by chance got to meet Moon Gwang-wook's father.
Just imagining how he might feel make my heart ache."
While staring at his son's determined face and eyes, Moon wishes those eyes and face
were actually real and not just a sculpture.
At the same time, he says that the bust is more than just a commemorative piece.
"Though my son died, what I want people to remember more is the incident in itself.
North Korea keeps making provocative comments and developing its nuclear and missile programs.
Out national security needs to be the top priority."
Moon adds, military provocations can happen at any time,... and that's why South Korea
can't let its guard down.
"I'm here at Daejeon National Cemetery,... where South Korea's Marine Corps is holding
a memorial ceremony for those killed in North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeong-do island...
on this date six years ago."
Over 200 people including families and friends of the two fallen soldiers, the ones that
fought in the battle, and marine corps officials, placed flowers at the soldiers' graveyards,...
to pay tribute to their sacrifice.
"The seeds our heroes have sown on Yeonpyong-do island... have largely raised a sense of national
security and defense readiness as well as a determination for victory."
"With stronger weapons and battle experiences, we're always ready to respond to our enemy's
provocations.
We're also having a mock drill today, on the anniversary of the artillery attack."
Pyongyang has noticeably enhanced its presence by placing multiple rocket launchers on its
southernmost Kali islets.
And this month only, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un even made visits to the front-line
units on Kali and Jangjae islets... which are only a few kilometers away from Yeonpyeong-do
island.
"Our Dear Leader looked around the military units stationed on North Korea's southernmost
Kali islets,... from where Yeonpyeong-do can be seen up close."
Amid Kim's recent visits and increased military presence on the islands, tension has heightened
on the Korean peninsula,... with local residents being exposed to some grave threats.
At an open debate held at the National Assembly,... representatives from the western islands including
Yeonpyeong-do island requested government ministries to come up with effective post-measures
in case there's another shelling on these islands.
"Any shell falling on these islands will mark our graves."
Life-threatening moments will continue on for these residents unless security tensions
between the two Koreas ease up.
"The two concepts of security and peace shouldn't be divided up dichotomously, but should go
together.
There has to be an agreement of some sort for the two Koreas, so that the residents
can be free from concerns on any possible military provocation from the North."
Six years have passed since the day artillery shells were exchanged.
But military conflicts between the two Koreas can happen any time, forcing residents on
these northwestern islands to sleep with one eye opened as the threat of another artillery
attack is always looming.
For residents, every day is a blessing, and every day is about surviving.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.