China’s ‘guarded response’ puts onus on both Koreas to establish peace in Peninsula
November 24th, 2010 - 1:19 pm ICT by ANIBeijing, Nov 24 (ANI): China has tactfully urged both Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to work towards establishing peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula, avoiding criticising Pyongyang for carrying out attacks on South Korean territory on Tuesday.
North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells on a South Korean border island, killing a South Korean soldier and injuring 12 others on Tuesday. There were reports of civilian injuries and houses were set ablaze as scores of shells fell on Yeonpyeong island.
Xinhua quoted Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, as saying that they are aware of related reports and are concerned about the issue.
“We have noticed related reports and are concerned about the issue. The real situation needs to be confirmed. We hope related parties to do things conductive to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula,” Hong Lei added.
Meanwhile the South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak, held an emergency meeting and told officials to ‘respond sternly’ but to avoid worsening the situation. The military were placed on high alert.
Earlier, a North Korea expert at Beijing’s Central Party School, Zhang Liangui, had said that Kim Jong-un, the youngest son and heir apparent to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, was deliberately destabilising the environment in order to mobilise the military and consolidate his power.
The relationship between the two countries worsened after March 26 this year when the ROK Navy warship “The Cheonan,” with 104 crew members onboard, went down off the ROK island of Baekryeong due to an unexplained explosion. Forty-six sailors were killed.
In October, the first military talks in two years between the North Korea and South Korea reportedly ended without progress as Pyongyang refused to apologize for the sinking of ‘The Cheonan.’ (ANI)
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