North Korea fired artillery rounds at a South Korean navy patrol boat, the ROKS Yoon Youngha, on Thursday evening near the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, South Korean media have reported.

North Korea launched shells near the ROK Navy PKG-711 patrol boat situated 14km from Yeonpyeong Island, though no damage to the vessel or casualties have so far been confirmed.

Ten shells were fired and five shots were fired back, Yonhap News said, adding that only two of the shells crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL) landing approximately 150m from the vessel.

An official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)