" A senior American offical said that an early Amarican assessment indictated that a total of about 175 artillery shells were fired by the North and by the South in response on Tuesday.
But an American offical who had looked at satellite images said there was no visible evidence of preparations for a general war. Historically, the North's attacks have been lightning raids, after which the North Koreans have backed off to watch the world's reaction. This one came just hours after the South Koreans had completed a long-planed set of military exercises, suggesting that the North Korean attack was "premeditated," a senior American offical said"