【明報專訊】NORTH KOREA suddenly shelled Yeonpyeong, a South Korean border island, injuring and killing South Korean servicemen and civilians. South Korea returned fire. While smoke of gunpowder billowed there, tension grew in Northeast Asia, and stock markets tumbled across the continent. It is believed that North Korea's move has to do with Kim Jong-il's desire to groom Kim Jong-un, his son, to take over from him. It is aimed at breaking North Korea's isolation by bringing the participants in the six-party talks back to the conference table.