VOA News | Sunday, January 7, 2024 
North Korea Fires Shells Near South Sea Border, Leader’s Sister Mocks Seoul 

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea again fired artillery shells near its tense sea boundary with the South on Sunday, as the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un mocked the South’s ability to detect its weapons launches. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff dismissed Kim Yo Jong’s statement as “a comedy-like, vulgar propaganda” meant to undermine the South Korean people’s trust in the military and stoke divisions. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired more than 90 rounds near the rivals’ disputed western sea boundary Sunday afternoon. It said South Korea strongly urged North Korea to stop provocative acts immediately. North Korea’s military later confirmed it used coastal artillery systems to carry out live-firing exercises. It said the drills were part of its military training schedules and the direction of its shells fired didn’t expose any threat to South Korea. On Friday, North Korea launched about 200 shells. South Korea also claimed that the North fired more than 60 rounds Saturday, but its rival has denied that. Kim Yo Jong said that North Korea on Saturday only detonated blasting powder simulating the sound of its coastal artillery on the seashore, to test the South Korean military’s detection capabilities…Read more