South Korean authorities ordered the evacuation of two islands on Friday, after North Korea fired artillery shells in the area, according to local officials.
A local official on the island of Baengnyeongdo said, “We are currently delivering evacuation notices” to residents, adding that he had been informed that the South Korean military plans to begin naval exercises soon.
Earlier, local officials said authorities had also ordered the evacuation of residents of the island of Yeonpyeongdo.
The evacuations come amid rising tensions between the two Koreas. North Korea has conducted a series of missile tests in recent months, and South Korea has responded with its own military exercises.
