The Defense Ministry sent a message to North Korea protesting Thursday’s shelling near a South Korean navy ship.
 
A ministry official said the South Korean military sent the message around 8:20 p.m. Thursday through a South-North military hotline near the Yellow Sea. The message was sent in the name of the South’s chief delegate of top inter-Korean military talks to his North Korean counterpart.
 
The official said the South issued stern warnings for the artillery firing in the message and made it clear that all responsibility lies with the North.
 
Earlier on Thursday, the North fired shells into waters near a South Korean naval boat that was patrolling waters about 14 kilometers southwest of Yeonpyeong Island. Two shells fell near the South Korean ship. After the initial attack, the South Korean ship immediately returned five rounds of fire. No injuries occurred.
 
The North’s military responded in a statement on Friday saying that Seoul’s claim that it fired shells at the South’s naval ship is a fabrication. It said South Korea was the one that fired “clumsy shots” at the North.