North Korea has deployed multiple rocket launchers along the shore north of Yeonpyeong, Baeknyeong and Gangwha islands in response to a planned South Korean artillery drill on Yeonpyeong, government sources here say. The North earlier threatened an "unpredicted self-defense counterattack" to the drills.

A South Korean government source said, "After making the threat in a message sent Friday, North Korea raised the alert level at artillery divisions on the west coast and deployed the multiple rocket launchers." The source added the South Korean military is monitoring the situation.

The North also reportedly made coastal artillery ready to fire and put some fighter jets on the west coast on standby.

Meanwhile,

The United Nations Security Council failed to agree on a statement to ease tension on the Korean peninsula, Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.

“We have a situation of very serious political tension and no game plan on the diplomatic side,” Churkin told reporters in New York today after the 6-hour meeting.

Churkin urged South Korea not to conduct planned live- firing drills today on an island that North Korea shelled last month. He said he wants the UN Secretary General to appoint a special envoy to Korea.

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Civilians On South Korea Island Told To Take Shelter

YEONPYEONG ISLAND (AFP)--Civilians on five South Korean border islands were ordered Monday to take shelter after Seoul announced it would stage a live-fire drill despite North Korean threats of retaliation.

A spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the order was issued for all the islands on the Yellow Sea frontline with the North, after Seoul said it would stage the artillery exercise on Yeonpyeong island later Monday.

"It will happen today," a defense ministry spokesman said without giving a time.

Local officials on Yeonpyeong made a similar loudspeaker announcement Monday morning. They later told residents, reporters, officials and others on the island to move to shelters within 30 minutes.

Yonhap news agency, quoting sources, said the drill was expected to be held between 11:00 a.m. and noon (0200-0300 GMT).

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I applaud South Korea for going forward with their military exercise. It is their sovereign right to do so. Besides, giving into North Korea would only weaken South Korea and give North Korea permission to make even stronger demands.

I am honestly hoping that North Korea attacks. It is time to pull the covers off of the godforsaken, evil country and allow the North Koreans to go free.