Yeonpyeong-do lsland residents living with threat from nearby N. Korea
- 4 years ago
북한과 근접한 연평도 주민들 일상 생활 속 불안감
As relations between the South and North sour, there are those who are especially on high alert - South Koreans living on the border islands.
Our Kim Doyeon is in Yeonpyeongdo...
Do-yeon, as tensions rise yet again on the Korean peninsula, people on Yeonpyeong do Island have good reason to be nervously watching the horizon, don't they?
Conn-young, I'm out here at Yeonpyeong-do Island, which is off the western coast of Gyeonggi-do Province.
Though you can't see it because of the weather, only about ten kilometers behind me is North Korea.
On a sunny day, you can sometimes even see whether the North Korean artillery doors are open.
Today the doors are closed and according to a marine PR officer, there is nothing peculiar about the North's movements.
The marines here on this island are also carrying out their planned exercises, but have modified them so that they can react to any sudden events.
The residents of the island were also out and about during the day today.
Their biggest industry is crab fishing, and we were able to speak to a few locals earlier to see if the current situation has affected their daily routine.
"They keep shooting stuff and who knows where they're going to shoot? If they shot here once, they can shoot here again... then we will all have to move out, we can't live like this."
"Even if North acts that way and we do get a bit scared, this is my home. I hope to live here until my death. To put the food on the table, we have to live without fear. I think if they continue to act that way, our country wouldn't let them continue. I'm sure we have our own plans."
Now, Do-yeon, that island has endured some unfortunate events in the past... the latest being the shelling in 2010. Are the residents now better prepared to protect themselves?
Yes, Conn-young, this island has seen several past conflicts between the two sides.
There have been naval confrontations in nearby waters and ten years ago the residents had to endure rounds of artillery shots which killed two residents.
Some of the scenes from the shelling, like destroyed houses, are kept to show visitors what the island has been through.
Now, if such event were to happen again, the people would evacuate into bomb shelters.
There are around eight of them across the island, and together they can protect more than 2000 people.
Considering that there are around 1000 residents here, the capacity seems to be sufficient.
A local civil servant told us that the shelters are checked every month to make sure they are well kept.
She also said the shelters have enough supplies for at least two days.
Back to you Conn-young.
As relations between the South and North sour, there are those who are especially on high alert - South Koreans living on the border islands.
Our Kim Doyeon is in Yeonpyeongdo...
Do-yeon, as tensions rise yet again on the Korean peninsula, people on Yeonpyeong do Island have good reason to be nervously watching the horizon, don't they?
Conn-young, I'm out here at Yeonpyeong-do Island, which is off the western coast of Gyeonggi-do Province.
Though you can't see it because of the weather, only about ten kilometers behind me is North Korea.
On a sunny day, you can sometimes even see whether the North Korean artillery doors are open.
Today the doors are closed and according to a marine PR officer, there is nothing peculiar about the North's movements.
The marines here on this island are also carrying out their planned exercises, but have modified them so that they can react to any sudden events.
The residents of the island were also out and about during the day today.
Their biggest industry is crab fishing, and we were able to speak to a few locals earlier to see if the current situation has affected their daily routine.
"They keep shooting stuff and who knows where they're going to shoot? If they shot here once, they can shoot here again... then we will all have to move out, we can't live like this."
"Even if North acts that way and we do get a bit scared, this is my home. I hope to live here until my death. To put the food on the table, we have to live without fear. I think if they continue to act that way, our country wouldn't let them continue. I'm sure we have our own plans."
Now, Do-yeon, that island has endured some unfortunate events in the past... the latest being the shelling in 2010. Are the residents now better prepared to protect themselves?
Yes, Conn-young, this island has seen several past conflicts between the two sides.
There have been naval confrontations in nearby waters and ten years ago the residents had to endure rounds of artillery shots which killed two residents.
Some of the scenes from the shelling, like destroyed houses, are kept to show visitors what the island has been through.
Now, if such event were to happen again, the people would evacuate into bomb shelters.
There are around eight of them across the island, and together they can protect more than 2000 people.
Considering that there are around 1000 residents here, the capacity seems to be sufficient.
A local civil servant told us that the shelters are checked every month to make sure they are well kept.
She also said the shelters have enough supplies for at least two days.
Back to you Conn-young.