North Korea has launched an artillery barrage on a South Korean island in one of the most serious clashes since the end of the Korean War

From ABC.net.au:

North Korea has launched an artillery barrage on a South Korean island in one of the most serious clashes since the end of the Korean War nearly 60 years ago.

One South Korean soldier has died, while more than a dozen others have been wounded and a number of houses caught fire.

Media reports say about 50 North Korean artillery shells slammed into the island of Yeonpyeong, about 3km south of the Yellow Sea border and 120km west of Seoul.

Residents were forced to flee as the shells hit homes and set them ablaze.

South Korea's military has confirmed one marine was killed and at least 14 others were wounded in the barrage, four seriously.

Defence minister Kim Tae-Young says the South fired 80 shots in response during an exchange that lasted for about an hour.

Seoul has raised its alert to the highest level and the security cabinet is meeting in an underground bunker.

South Korean F-16 fighter planes have also been scrambled to the island.....read on