By ETHAN Markoff
NORTH KOREA NEWS - In a surprising note, North Korea proclaims it will not respond harshly over South Korea's "reckless provocations" over life-fire drills by the South on the flashpoint island of Yeonpyeong.
Earlier North attacked the island and said to continue more drills if South Korea wouldn't stop the live-fire. However, the state media in a recent report stated it was not worth reacting this time.
UN Security Council approach ended without any result after China refused to be in unison with the statement, which was critical to its friend North Korea.
The South's government has been under domestic pressure to take tough measures against North after an artillery fire exchanged on Korean border when North Korea army fired artillery shells onto a populated island near disputed waters, prompting return fire from South Korea. It is reported of injuring civilians and soldiers due to sudden conflict.
Before the attack on Yeonpyeong, the South ordered residents and other islands to take cover in air-raid shelters early Monday. South Koreans feared of heavy retaliation from the North, but surprisingly North Korean state news agency KCNA reported that the military had not planned for any attack.
In a report it said that the North Korea army did not feel to answer any despicable military provocations by the South.
"The world should properly know who is the true champion of peace and who is the real provocateur of a war." State Media said.
South Korean military spokesman Lee Bung-woo confirmed that there were no provocative fire from the North's side.
China and Russia urged both sides to remain calm and show restraint.
The US on the other hand backed South Korea to exercised military drills against The North and assured to help the South in this matter.
December 20, 2010 | 0
comments
