Pres. Park to send a video message for bereaved families of Yeonpyeong battle veterans

Pres. Park to send a video message for bereaved families of Yeonpyeong battle veterans. November. 20, 2015 10:11. neone@donga.com.

Marking the 5th anniversary of the shelling on Yeonpyeong Island by North Korea, President Park Geun-hye is going to send a video message to the bereaved families at the memorial service.

Her initial plan was to visit the service, which is to take place at the War Memorial of Korea on next Monday, but the visit has been replaced with a video message owing to her other commitments including her overseas tours. At the memorial service, some 4,000 guests will show up including the family members of the late veterans Sergeant Seo Jeong-woo and Private First Class Mun Gwang-wook as well as Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Seung-chun.

The Ministry of National Defense is considering changing the official name of the incident from "provocative shelling" to "artillery battle." “While it is not conclusive yet, we are carefully reviewing the plan to change the official name of it to an artillery battle,” the spokesperson of the defense ministry told a regular briefing on Thursday.

The intention is to promote accurate public awareness on how Korean military responded to the North Korean provocations at that time. While the former name might suggest that the Korean navy failed to fight back, the latter will indicate that both parties engaged in a fierce battle.

On Nov. 23, 2010, North Korean military launched a surprise attack by firing some 170 artillery shells (multi-launch rocket) on Yeonpyeong Island over two rounds of firing under the pretext of the Yeonpyeong Unit’s firing exercise of the K-9 self-propelled guns, which had been conducted on a regular basis by the Korean marines. In 13 minutes after the initial assault, the Korean unit fired back some 80 K-9 artillery shells. The exchange of fire cost the Korean side 20 casualties. While not official, North Korean casualties are reported to have reached somewhere near 40.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has built a new grave plot for the two fallen veterans of the tragic incident in front of the tombs of the six warriors who perished during the second Yeonpyeong Naval Battle.