"North Korea's Artillery Barrage Near Yeonpyeong Sparks South Korean Evacuations and Joint US Military Drills"

North Korea fired over 200 artillery shells near a tense maritime border, causing South Korean residents on Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong islands to evacuate. South Korea condemned the act as a provocation that escalates tensions and threatens peace. The South Korean military reported no damage and is monitoring the situation in coordination with the United States, ready to respond to further provocations. The incident occurs amid heightened confrontations on the Korean peninsula, with North Korea recently testing advanced missiles and issuing threats towards South Korea and the U.S. China has called for calm and restraint from all parties involved.