In what appeared to be one of the most serious border incidents since the 1950-53 war, South Korean troops fired back with cannon, the government convened in an underground war room and “multiple” air force jets scrambled.
North Korea’s official media, however, accused South Korea of firing first.
The firing came after North Korea’s disclosure of an apparently operational uranium enrichment plant — a second potential way of building a nuclear bomb — which is causing serious alarm for the United States and its allies.
It also comes as North Korea prepares for an eventual dynastic succession from Kim Jong-Il to his youngest son, Kim Jong-Un.
The White House said it “strongly condemns” the artillery attack on the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong, and said it was “firmly committed to the defense” of its staunch military ally Seoul.
Some 50 shells landed on Yeonpyeong near the tense Yellow Sea border, damaging dozens of houses and sending plumes of thick smoke into the air, YTN television reported.
Two South Korean marines — part of a contingent based permanently on the frontline island — were killed, the military said.
Five marines were seriously hurt in the artillery barrage and 10 suffered minor injuries, while three civilians were also hurt.
“A Class-A military alert issued for battle situations was imposed immediately after shelling began,” a military spokesman told AFP.
Sporadic firing by each side continued for over an hour before dying out, the military said.
The shelling began at 2:34 p.m. (0534 GMT) after the North sent several messages protesting about South Korean naval, air force and army training exercises being staged close to the border, a presidential spokesman said.
“Flashes along with a thunderous sound were seen here and there across our villages and up to 10 houses were engulfed in flames,” said Woo Soo-Woo, 62, a guesthouse owner on the island.
The shooting started bushfires at several places in the hills, he told AFP by phone after fleeing the island by ferry for the mainland port of Incheon.
Yeonpyeong lies just south of the border declared by UN forces after the war, but north of the sea border declared by Pyongyang. The Yellow Sea border was the scene of deadly naval clashes in 1999, 2002 and last November.
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak convened an emergency meeting of ministers and national security advisers in an underground war room, a presidential spokesman said.
Lee urged the officials “to prevent further escalation”, but his office also warned that South Korea would “sternly retaliate” for any further provocations.
“This is an intentional provocation to heighten cross-border tensions,” Dongguk University professor Kim Yong-Hyun told AFP.
“The North made a series of gestures but there has been no response from South Korea and the United States. It is now using its brinkmanship aimed at forcing Seoul and Washington to take action and agree to dialogue.”
US special envoy Stephen Bosworth was headed to China Tuesday to seek its help in curbing North Korea’s new nuclear project, revealed to US experts who described a sophisticated programme to enrich uranium.
China, North Korea’s sole major ally and economic prop, expressed concern over the cross-border firing, and appealed for stalled six-party nuclear talks to resume.
Russia also warned against an escalation of tensions on the divided peninsula, while Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan ordered his ministers to prepare for “any unexpected event”.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Tuesday he has ordered his ministers to prepare for any eventuality.
Kan said he planned to attend a scheduled event at the imperial palace on Tuesday evening, but said he will remain updated on the situation.
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