South Korea scrambled fighter jets and artillery fire after he returned to North Korea provoked a more serious confrontation on the peninsula in recent decades by launching dozens of missiles in Yeonpyeong island, located near the border of both countries on the west coast of the peninsula. The bombing killed two South Korean soldiers and wounded at least 14.
"The United States strongly condemns this attack and calls on North Korea to halt its belligerent action," said the White House today in a statement. The U.S., which stations about 25,000 troops in South Korea is in contact with the government in Seoul, the statement said.
Tensions with North Korea have increased over the last year after the sinking of a warship South Korea, the Cheonan, in March that killed 46 sailors. President Barack Obama dispatched his special envoy, Stephen Bosworth, to Asia this week after reports of a U.S. scientist North Korea had revealed a new uranium enrichment plant.
North Korea began exchanging gunfire with South Korea, Bosworth told reporters in Beijing at a press conference after meeting with Chinese officials. U.S. and China share the view that "this conflict is very undesirable," and agreed that all parties must exercise restraint, "said Bosworth.
Bosworth said that his talks with China on North Korea's revelations about uranium enrichment "very useful", and included a "broad exchange of views." U.S. and China have agreed to continue coordination and consultation on the issue of uranium enrichment, he said.
North Korea is seeking concessions from countries that oppose its nuclear program, said Jan Techau, an analyst at the Defense College of NATO in Rome.
"The North Koreans are always trying to blackmail the rest of the world," Techau said in a telephone interview. "A few years ago were now firing missiles and firing missiles."
China expressed "concern" about the bombing of North Korea.
"We hope that the parties do more to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters in Beijing. Reports on the new plant in North Korea's uranium enrichment underscores the need for disarmament talks, said Hong.
China's role will be crucial to mitigate the conflict, said Shada Islam, an Asia expert at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre.
"This will require China's diplomacy, which is the only country to have any influence on North Korea," Islam said in a telephone interview.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom William Hague said it "strongly condemns" the attack North Korea. German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, said the "military provocation endangering peace in the region."
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia expressed "deep concern" over the exchange of artillery. "Russia resolutely condemns any use of force between states and the product of the position that all existing disputes should be resolved exclusively by political and diplomatic means," the ministry said on its website.
Russia, which shares a border with North Korea, called for restraint on both sides, the statement said.
Taiwan urges North Korea and South to the restraint in order to maintain peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, Johnny Chiang, spokesman for the island of Staff, told a news conference broadcast on local television.
"Evil will probably continue for at least a few days," said Kenneth Quinones, former director of the U.S. State Department of North Korean affairs professor at Akita International University in Japan, in an interview. "I expect that some measures of the Security Council of the UN very, very soon."
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