The army of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) countered South Korean artillery firing with "determined military measures" on Tuesday afternoon, the official news agency KCNA reported.

Smoke rises from South Korean Yeonpyeong Island after being hit by dozens of artillery shells fired by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on November 23, 2010. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Supreme Command of the Korean People's Army (KPA) of the DPRK, said the report.

According to the KCNA, South Korea insisted on hold military exercises ignoring the repeated warning of the DPRK and shot toward the waters of DPRK with dozens of shells around Yonphyong Islet at 1:00 o'clock p.m. local time on Tuesday afternoon.

The KPA immediately beat back to the South Korean military provocation with determined military measures.

The statement didn't refer the concrete content of the "military measures."

"It is a traditional mode of counter-action of the army of the DPRK to counter the firing of the provocateurs with merciless strikes," said the statement.

If South Korea dared to intrude into the waters of the DPRK, the DPRK will take merciless military counter-actions against it without any hesitation, the statement warned.

According to South Korean media, the Yonphyong Islet suffered artillery firing from the DPRK side on Tuesday and there were reportedly casualties.

It is reported that a military exercise was held by South Korea in the nearby waters from Nov. 22 to Nov. 30.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet