Russia urges to stop hostilities in Korean Peninsula

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23/11 Tass 227

MINSK, November 23 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia has urged to stop immediately
the exchange of blows in the Korean Peninsula, Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov said here on Tuesday.
"The recent developments in the area of the Korean Peninsula deserve
to be denounced. Those who initiated and staged the shelling of a South
Korean island take enormous responsibility upon themselves. All the needed
measures should be taken, and the exchange of blows should be stopped," he
said.
Lavrov stated with regret that there was loss of life as a result of
the incident, and several people were injured. He reminded that it was the
third such incident since the beginning of the year.
Russia has repeatedly warned about the growth of tension in the area,
Lavrov continued, "and we urged the conflicting parties not to permit the
sliding of the situation down to the use of force. We emphatically urge to
take measures immediately for calming the situation down and for
preventing such incidents in the future."
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) shelled on Tuesday
the territorial waters of the Republic of Korea (RK) and the Yeonpyeong
Island near the western sea border between the two Korean states in the
Yellow Sea. In response to that, the RK artillery fired some 80 gunshots,
said Col Lee Bung-woo, spokesman for South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff of
the Armed Forces.
No less than 14 people were affected by the DPRK shelling, including
four RK Marines, says a report of Vladimir Kutakhov, Itar-Tass
correspondent in Seoul. One of the Marines died. Aside from it, four
civilians were wounded by the shelling, said a representative of the mayor'
s office of the port of Incheon, in whose administrative district the
Yeonpyeong Island is situated. Forests and several houses are on fire.
Electricity supply was interrupted in the island. One can see clouds of
smoke in TV reports from the island. According to reports of local
residents, the authorities suggested evacuation to them.
As a result of the shelling, the RK Armed Forces were placed on high
alert. RK moved its warplanes to the island, including jet fighter planes.
DPRK continues the shelling from time to time, to which RK troops
respond, official representatives of the RK authorities reported.
Officials from the staff of the RK president believe it is quite probable
that the shelling was started by DPRK in response to the annual military
exercise codenamed Hoguk, which is taking place at the western coast of
the country. This is one of the three biggest military exercises staged by
RK. The Hoguk military exercise was started on Monday. Some 70,000 men are
taking part in it. DPRK sent a protest message to Seoul recently,
denouncing the holding of such a big military exercise. Military
specialists say, however, that the Hoguk military exercise is held to the
south of the area, shelled by DPRK troops.
RK President Lee Myung-bak urgently conferred with top-ranking
officers of the police, the Armed Forces and the security services. The
president gave instructions not to permit the development of the armed
clash into a military conflict on the western border.
According to the information of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, RK sent a
message to DPRK, demanding the termination of the shelling. JCS Chairman
Han Min-koo, had a telephone conversation with General Walter Sharp,
Commander of the U.S. troops in RK, as a result of which the allies
decided to announce "joint actions in the crisis situation."
-0-rom/kud