On January 5, 2024, North Korea fired more than 200 rounds of artillery shells into the waters north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) near Yeonpyeong Island and Baengnyeong Island in the West Sea. On the same day, North Korea, through a statement from the General Staff of the Korea People’s Army(KPA), asserted that the artillery shell firing could be considered a “natural response” to various exercises conducted by the South Korean military. However, it seems the backdrop to the provocation is the shift in the direction of inter-Korean relations and unification policy as declared by Kim, Jong-un during the expanded meeting of the 9th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee at the end of December 2023. North Korea continued its artillery shell firing into the northern region of the West Sea near the NLL on January 6-7, 2024, firing approximately 150 rounds.