The protest in central Seoul came hours after the nation laid to rest two marines killed in the artillery strike on Yeonpyeong island Tuesday, which also killed two civilians and sparked global outrage and alarm.

"Condemn the North's atrocity" and "Let's unite and avenge," chanted the mostly elderly protesters, wearing the red caps and dark green camouflage uniforms of the Marine Corps, of which they were retired servicemen.

They burned a portrait of the hardline regime's leader Kim Jong-Il and his son, 27-year-old heir apparent Kim Jong-Un.

One torched the North Korean national flag, then trampled its charred remains with his military boots.

Retired marine Lee Kwang-Sun said that the veterans were prepared to return to active duty if their nation called on them, telling AFP: "We are ready to rush to the frontline if we are asked to do so."

The two marines killed Tuesday, Sergeant Suh Jung-Woo, 22, and Private Moon Kwang-Wook, 20, were buried at a national cemetery in central Daejeon City following a marine funeral Saturday that was televised nationwide.

North Korea has said its attack -- the first shelling of civilians since the 1950-53 Korean War -- was retaliation after South Korea allegedly fired shells into what the North considers its own coastal waters during a drill.

"We are outraged by the attack. We must react strongly so that Kim Jong-Il will not dare to do something like this again," said veteran Kim Haeng-Bo.

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