The US Concerned over North and South Recent Korea Flare-up
The United States is looking into the current artillery firing between the two Koreas, expressing concern that it might escalate and become more violent. According to officials, they are monitoring this matter closely.
John Kirby, spokesperson for the State Department, has commented that the North's "provocative actions" might worsen tension. He has also urged officials in Pyongyang to cease the firing and any actions that could affect peace and security.
The exchange of artillery started early Thursday at the western border, coinciding with the ongoing yearly military exercises of South Korea and the US to which North Korea saw as war preparation.
Before the incident, Ja Song Nam - the North's United Nations Ambassador - sent a letter to the Security Council on Wednesday. He requested an urgent discussion regarding the joint military exercises. Pyongyang reportedly asked the council to talk over the annual drills repeatedly.
According to South Korea's defense ministry, the North fired artillery shells at the former's military positions. Reports have it that the shells landed in a mountainous place near the base in Yeoncheon though there were no casualties. It had also been suggested that the artillery was aimed at or close to the propaganda speakers. The South's troops also launched dozens of 155mm artillery in retaliation.
The North later sent Seoul a letter warning it would spring further military action if South Korea didn't cease propaganda broadcasts against Pyongyang within 48 hours. It would take "all-out military action of justice to blow up all means for anti-North Korean psychological warfare". But the South's officials replied that the broadcasts won't stop.
Despite South Korea's efforts to bring back its ties with the North, the relationship of the two nations is under strain lately after the explosion of landmines on August 4 that wounded two South Korean soldiers. Seoul blamed Pyongyang, saying that the North is responsible for planting landmines to which the latter denied.
Authorities in the South have added residents in Paju region - where the landmine exploded - and the Island of Kanghwa to their list of evacuees, after initially issuing evacuation in Yeoncheon. Its military readiness alert is already Jindogae 1, which is the highest level, indicating imminent invasion or immediate danger.
