UN emergency meeting begins on Korea crisis
Source: Agencies |
December 20, 2010, Monday
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The United Nations Security Council was holding an emergency meeting early this morning in a bid to prevent the escalating crisis on the Korean Peninsula spiraling out of control.
Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who called a news conference on Saturday about the spat between North and South Korea, said he hoped the 15 council members could agree on a unanimous statement that would send a "restraining signal" to both Seoul and Pyongyang.
A draft presidential statement circulated by Russia to council members stressed the need for efforts "to ensure a de-escalation of tension" between the two Koreas and a "resumption of dialogue and resolution of all problems dividing them exclusively through peaceful diplomatic means."
It asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to immediately send an envoy to both countries "to consult on urgent measures to settle peacefully the current crisis situation in the Korean Peninsula."
Churkin said yesterday: "We are seriously concerned about possible further escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula."
He said the situation "directly affects the national security interests of the Russian Federation."
South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a government source as saying that North Korea's military had raised an alert for artillery units based along its west coast ahead of a planned live-fire drill by South Korea.
Both North and South Korea have said they will use military means to defend what they say is their territory off the west coast.
But South Korea said yesterday that bad weather was delaying the live-fire exercise that prompted North Korean threats of war, but added that it had no plans to scrap the drills despite international calls for restraint.
North Korea has called the artillery fire drill planned by South Korea on Yeonpyeong Island, which was attacked last month, a suicidal war move that would trigger a full-out conflict on the Korean Peninsula and said it would strike back in self-defense.
Weather conditions worsened on the normally sleepy, idyllic island of fishermen, forcing the military to push back the planned one-day live-fire drill past the weekend. It had been scheduled for some time between December 18 and tomorrow.
"There is no plan to cancel the exercise. The factor we're looking at is the weather condition," a Defense Ministry official said.
South Korean marines plan to test artillery firing from the island targeting its territorial waters to its southwest, the same type of exercise that North Korea last month called an attack and returned fire, killing four people.
United States troubleshooter Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico who is on a private mission to Pyongyang, said he had made some progress in his discussions there.
He said he did not get a firm answer on whether North Korea would physically strike South Korea again, but added: "It's still very tense out there."
China again urged the rival Koreas to open talks and avoid steps that could inflame tensions on the peninsula, extending its effort to contain a confrontation on its doorstep.
"China resolutely opposes any actions that could inflame tensions and exacerbate the situation, and asks that both sides of the peninsula exercise calm and restraint and open up dialogue and contacts," Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said yesterday. Yang made the remarks when speaking to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
North Korea continued with blistering assaults on South Korea and the US on Saturday, blaming Seoul for conspiring with Washington.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "We will be sure to settle scores with the US for the extreme situation on the Korean Peninsula."
Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who called a news conference on Saturday about the spat between North and South Korea, said he hoped the 15 council members could agree on a unanimous statement that would send a "restraining signal" to both Seoul and Pyongyang.
A draft presidential statement circulated by Russia to council members stressed the need for efforts "to ensure a de-escalation of tension" between the two Koreas and a "resumption of dialogue and resolution of all problems dividing them exclusively through peaceful diplomatic means."
It asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to immediately send an envoy to both countries "to consult on urgent measures to settle peacefully the current crisis situation in the Korean Peninsula."
Churkin said yesterday: "We are seriously concerned about possible further escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula."
He said the situation "directly affects the national security interests of the Russian Federation."
South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted a government source as saying that North Korea's military had raised an alert for artillery units based along its west coast ahead of a planned live-fire drill by South Korea.
Both North and South Korea have said they will use military means to defend what they say is their territory off the west coast.
But South Korea said yesterday that bad weather was delaying the live-fire exercise that prompted North Korean threats of war, but added that it had no plans to scrap the drills despite international calls for restraint.
North Korea has called the artillery fire drill planned by South Korea on Yeonpyeong Island, which was attacked last month, a suicidal war move that would trigger a full-out conflict on the Korean Peninsula and said it would strike back in self-defense.
Weather conditions worsened on the normally sleepy, idyllic island of fishermen, forcing the military to push back the planned one-day live-fire drill past the weekend. It had been scheduled for some time between December 18 and tomorrow.
"There is no plan to cancel the exercise. The factor we're looking at is the weather condition," a Defense Ministry official said.
South Korean marines plan to test artillery firing from the island targeting its territorial waters to its southwest, the same type of exercise that North Korea last month called an attack and returned fire, killing four people.
United States troubleshooter Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico who is on a private mission to Pyongyang, said he had made some progress in his discussions there.
He said he did not get a firm answer on whether North Korea would physically strike South Korea again, but added: "It's still very tense out there."
China again urged the rival Koreas to open talks and avoid steps that could inflame tensions on the peninsula, extending its effort to contain a confrontation on its doorstep.
"China resolutely opposes any actions that could inflame tensions and exacerbate the situation, and asks that both sides of the peninsula exercise calm and restraint and open up dialogue and contacts," Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said yesterday. Yang made the remarks when speaking to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
North Korea continued with blistering assaults on South Korea and the US on Saturday, blaming Seoul for conspiring with Washington.
North Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "We will be sure to settle scores with the US for the extreme situation on the Korean Peninsula."
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