On November 23, 2010 (October 18, 2010 in the lunar calendar), North Korea bombarded a disputed island between North and South Korea, causing 4 deaths and 20 injuries. On the afternoon of November 23, 2010, the Press Office of the Ministry of National Defense of South Korea confirmed that the waters off Yeonpyeong Island in western South Korea were shelled by North Korea at about 14:30 that day, and the South Korean army responded. North Korea fired more than a hundred artillery shells in the direction of Yeonpyeong Island in South Korea on the 23rd, killing two South Korean naval soldiers and injuring 20 people, including soldiers and civilians. South Korea also fired more than 80 artillery shells in response. The two sides held different opinions on the artillery battle. North Korea said that the artillery battle was triggered by South Korea's protectionist military exercise firing shells in the West Sea, while South Korea insisted that the military exercise was conducted in South Korean waters. On the afternoon of the 23rd, South Korea held an emergency chief secretarial meeting. Lee Myung-bak emphasized the need to greatly increase the firepower of Paekyong Island and Yeonpyeong Island.