Sounds of artillery fire heard in N. Korea

A South Korean military official said sounds of distant artillery fire were heard Wednesday from within North Korea near the tense West Sea border, a news report said.

No shells have landed south of the border or on Yeonpyeong Island, the site of last month's bombardment by the North, the official at the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on condition of anonymity, according to Yonhap News agency.

"We assumed North Korea was carrying out its regular firing exercises," the official was quoted as saying.

The official said, "It's not a situation that raises concerns," Yonhap said.

Inter-Korean tensions escalated after North Korea shelled the island on Nov. 23.