North Korea is led by Kim Jong Il (Photo courtesty of the Associated Press).

Two South Korean marines died Tuesday when North Korea shelled South Korea’s Yeonpyong Island, authorities said.

The attack on the small island in the Yellow Sea was the first direct artillery attack on South Korea since 1953, according to the country’s Yonhap News Agency.

North Korea fired near 100 rounds on the island, injuring 15 South Korean soldiers and 3 civilians. South Korea then responded by firing nearly 80 rounds and deploying fighter jets, according to United States defense officials.

The firing over the Yellow Sea between the two territories lasted about an hour. In March at this same area, a South Korean warship was sunk, killing 46. The ship was brought down by a suspected North Korean torpedo.

President Lee Myung-bak met with advisers at the South Korean presidential residence Tuesday and commanded strikes on North Korea’s missile base if there is any “indication of further provocation,” according to Hong Sang-pyo of the Korean Herald.

The United States voiced their support of South Korea Tuesday.

“The president is outraged by this action,” said deputy press secretary Bill Burton through the Los Angeles Times.  “We stand shoulder to shoulder with South Korea.”

The shelling was a response from North Korea, who alleged that South Korea engaged in “reckless military provocation.” South Korean forces had fired dozens of shells inside territorial waters during maritime military drills this week.

South Korea says they warned the neighboring country of the training exercises ahead of time.