South Korea beefs up security after North Korea attack

Published Nov. 25, 2010 at 6:20 am

A South Korean resident walks by destroyed houses on Yeonpyeong island, South Korea on Nov. 25, 2010. South Korean troops remained on high alert, and the country's Cabinet held a special meeting Thursday to assess security and economic impacts from the attack.

Photo by AP

INCHEON, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's president is vowing to boost security around islands near the site of this week's artillery attack by North Korea.

The comments Thursday came during a meeting of top government officials aimed at reviewing security and economic impacts of the exchange of fire Tuesday that left four South Koreans dead and the region on edge.

Yonhap news agency says South Korean President Lee Myung-bak ordered his officials to beef up security around islands off South Korea’s western coast.

Pyongyang, meanwhile, is lashing out against the United States and South Korea, warning of more retaliation if Seoul carries out "reckless military provocations."