S. Korea orders civilians on Yeonpyeong Island to evacuate amid apparent N.K. provocation

S Korea-evacuation order

S. Korea orders civilians on Yeonpyeong Island to evacuate amid apparent N.K. provocation

SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has ordered civilians on the western border island of Yeonpyeong Island to evacuate to shelters, officials said Friday, amid apparent signs of a military provocation by North Korea.

The emergency evacuation order was given at 12:02 p.m. and again at 12:30 p.m. on Friday at the request of the South Korean military, according to the local county office.

"We announced the evacuation after receiving a call from a military unit saying it was carrying out a maritime strike on Yeongpyeong Island as it has a situation with a North Korean provocation," an official said.

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