North Korea warns South, reminds Seoul of island shelling incident

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- North Korea issued a stern warning to the South on Friday, telling Seoul to "not forget" the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010.

The message from Pyongyang's propaganda outlet Uriminzokkiri included criticism of a South Korean military inspection of a frontline maritime region, Yonhap reported.

"The [South Korean] instigators are strutting around the Yeonpyeong area, talking about 'killing,' 'punishing' and expressing other forms of ill-advised bravery," the North Korean statement read.

Pyongyang also said the bombardment of the island was a self-defensive measure, and that "the Yeonpyeong incident is not an event of the past."

"A brutal baptism of fire that cannot be compared to past incidents will coat" the atmosphere, North Korea said.

Chairman of South Korea's joint chiefs of staff Gen. Lee Sun-jin and Lee Sang-hoon, commander of Seoul's marine corps had recently ordered "full readiness" for North Korea provocations in Yeonpyeong and the frontline areas of the Yellow Sea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was also busy with inspections near the area, including visits to the Galido outpost less than 3 miles away from Yeonpyeong, according to state media on Nov. 13.

On Friday, Seoul's unification ministry issued a prompt condemnation of North Korea's threat and reference to the Yeongpyeong shelling incident, according to Yonhap.