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Source: Reuters -
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North Korea fired several artillery rounds in the direction of a South Korean island off the peninsula in a second day of shooting near a disputed sea border that has been the site of deadly clashes in the past.
The rounds landed on the north's side of the disputed maritime border off the west coast of the rival states, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said quoting military sources.
The two Koreas remain technically at war.
North Korea has declared a no-sail zone in the Yellow Sea waters for two months ending in late March, a sign it might be preparing to fire artillery or test launch missiles.
"The fog made it difficult to see with naked eye, but it appears the North has fired several shots with its coastal artillery," Yonhap quoted one military source as saying.
The reclusive communist state has made overtures in recent weeks in response to the South's calls for dialogue, agreeing to meet to discuss a joint industrial project and higher wages for its workers there.
Clashes between the neighbours have been contained in recent years with impact on financial markets negligible or short-lived, but analysts said the North could further escalate tension by shooting across the sea border or firing short-range missiles.
North Korea has fired about 100 artillery rounds and threatened to fire more as a part of a military drill. South Korea returned fire with warning shots and said the North's move was a cause for grave concern while urging Pyongyang to stop.
South Korea's won was down slightly after the initial reports of the firing. The main stock index was muted.
North Korea has more than 10,000 pieces of artillery aimed at the wealthy South and which could in a matter of hours destroy much of the capital Seoul, 40 km from the border.
The firing came when President Lee Myung-bak was travelling to Davos in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum after a state visit to India.
The latest clash comes amid signals from Pyongyang it was ready to return after a year-long boycott to six-country talks on ending its atomic arms programme.
Earlier this week Pyongyang accused the South of declaring war by saying it would launch a pre-emptive strike if it had clear signs the North was preparing a nuclear attack.
