Dozens of fishing boats lay at anchor and activity was low at Yeonpyeong Island piers on Wednesday, although this is the high season for sea bass. Military jeeps were frequently passing dreary village roads and tourists had been replaced by reporters.

North Korea's recent threats have completely transformed the islanders' life. Of the 1,700 residents, more than 1,000 depend on the sea for their livelihood, but going fishing has become a high risk.

As soldiers are on alert and hardly leave their compound, local businesses are even more affected. A restaurant owner said his takings dwindled over 70 percent. "Tourists aren't coming any more, and amid the emergency situation, military officers don't go out for meals."

Worse still, it has become hard to recruit workers from outside the island ahead of the crab season, which begins in April.