North Korea and South Korea Resume the War

The war that never ended continues -

SEOUL (AFP) – North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island on Tuesday, killing one person, setting homes ablaze and triggering an exchange of fire as the South's military went on top alert.

In what appeared to be one of the most serious border incidents since the 1950-53 war, South Korean troops fired back with cannon, the government convened in an underground war room and "multiple" air force jets scrambled.

The firing came after North Korea's disclosure of an apparently operational uranium enrichment programme -- a second potential way of building a nuclear bomb -- which is causing serious alarm for the United States and its allies.

Some 50 shells landed on the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong near the tense Yellow Sea border, damaging dozens of houses and sending plumes of thick smoke into the air, YTN television reported.

One South Korean marine -- part of a contingent based permanently on the frontline island -- was killed and 13 other marines were wounded, the military said. YTN said two civilians were also hurt.

"A Class-A military alert issued for battle situations was imposed immediately after shelling began," a military spokesman said.

The Real Effect
I know very little about the current escalation at the moment. As it develops I will post relevant details, but for now you should review this from 2006 -

Yet on the horizon still looms North Korea and most likely China. Perhaps 2009?

and 2007 -

I have said and will say again that this is escalation warfare designed to destroy the American will and ultimately the United States itself. With the logical progression being: Afghanistan -> Iraq -> Iran/Syria -> North Korea -> China/Russia(Japan?)

and June -

Look for increasing conditions of hostility moving towards war with either Iran, North Korea or China outright. In order for this to work, they need to hook in Russia and China for revenge at a later date. (Say 3 and 10-ish years from now respectively.)

...last week and more comprehensively here.