Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn visited the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong on Friday, which was bombarded in a North Korean artillery attack in 2010, his office said.
  
The visit was arranged to encourage soldiers and residents there amid the rising popularity of a film depicting the naval skirmish off Yeonpyeong on June 29, 2002, which left six South Korean sailors dead and 18 others injured, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
  
"The government will take responsibility and continue to protect the honor of those killed," Hwang told soldiers during the visit to the western border island.
  
"Northern Limit Line" has attracted more than 3.8 million viewers as of Friday since it opened in theaters last week.
  
"Most movie goers are those in their 20's and 30's," Hwang said, adding that the movie acted as an opportunity to bring out patriotism.
  
The shelling of Yeonpyeong, which came some eight months after the sinking of South Korean Naval vessel Cheonan in the Yellow Sea that left 46 sailors dead, also killed two civilians.
  
Before his visit to the military unit, Hwang also paid tribute to the two soldiers killed during the attack and talked with residents about evacuation facilities on the island, the PMO said.
  
Delivering words of consolation to the people there who have suffered a lot due to the North's attack and continued threats, Hwang reassured them, noting the government will make efforts to improve their livelihoods, the office said. (Yonhap)