Two civilians were found dead Wednesday on the South Korean island attacked by North Korea, the first civilian deaths noted in the bombing, officials said.
The South Korean coast guard said the bodies were found at the construction site of a marine corps base on Yeonpyeong Island, near the disputed maritime border between the Koreas, that was wracked Tuesday by North Korean artillery, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
The civilian deaths brought the number of deceased in Tuesday's attack to four, including two marines, officials said. Eighteen others were wounded.
U.S. President Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak agreed Tuesday to conduct joint military exercises as a first response to the attack, with the United States sending the aircraft carrier George Washington and other
ships into the region, The New York Times reported.
Obama called Lee to tell him the United States "stands shoulder to shoulder with our close friend and ally," the White House said of the phone conversation.