December 20, 2010
(CNN) — South Korea’s planned live-fire military exercises started Monday afternoon, the country’s ministry of defense said.
North Korea has said the drill could ignite a war and has promised to respond militarily, but has also agreed to a series of actions after former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson urged the North to not take an aggressive response.
On Sunday, South Korea ordered thousands to find shelter in preparation for the drill while the United Nations’ Security Council wrangled over growing tensions in the Korean peninsula.
An approximate 8,000 residents were ordered to take cover in Yeonpyeong, Baengnyeong, Daecheong, Socheong and Udo in the hours leading up to the drill.
North Korea said over the weekend that the planned exercises were designed to violate the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953 and “ignite war at any cost.”
At the United Nations, nearly eight hours of emergency Security Council talks on the standoff ended Sunday without a unified statement.
The prison gates are open... 