Following an artillery attack by North Korea on South Korea, United States called for restraint and vowed to form a unanimous response with all the major powers, including China.
A South Korean island was heavily bombarded by North Korea, who fired nearly a dozen artillery shells in one the heaviest bombardments on the South since the end of Korean War in 1953, escalating tensions between the two countries.
North Korea has been warned by the South of “enormous retaliation” if it takes more aggressive steps, but the US said no military actions would be taken as of yet to discourage the North.
Pentagon said that Robert Gates, the US Defense Secretary, and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-Young decided to synchronize any action against the North’s aggression. Gates expressed his admiration to the “restraint shown to date”.
The North Korean attack was called by the US as a violation of the peace agreement, through which the 1950-53 war between two countries was ended. It also condemned the attack in March on a South Korean warship, killing 46 sailors.
But State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the US was seeking a combined diplomatic front with North Korea’s neighbors, including China, Pyongyang’s solitary lasting key backer, which has in the past resisted international efforts to get harsh with its secluded ally.
US President Barack Obama was awake at 3:55 a.m. for an emergency briefing when he learned of the attack. The White House condemned the attack. The President was due to have a dialogue with his South Korean counterpart, the White House spokesperson said. He also said that North Korea had a history of such provocative attacks but this one was very provocative.
On Tuesday, Obama’s top aides on national security including Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates met to discuss the ongoing situation.
After the attack, South Korea fired back and also sent fighter jets to the area, but no US forces were involved, the White House said.
As a reaction to the attack, global stock markets fell. In the US, major markets like the Dow Jones fell about 1.5 percent, while US dollar and gold prices were pushed up.
The patience of the US was tested the second time in three days and its promise not to prize bad diplomatic gestures, like aid-for-disarmament talks.
The attack on Tuesday followed the uncovering of a second uranium enrichment facility in Pyongyang’s nuclear programs.
In the US, the Republican lawmakers called for a tougher approach towards Pyongyang. Senator John McCain said that nearly two decades have been wasted in pacifying the North’s regime. And the future attempts will be met by same results. He called for china to play a direct and constructive role in North Korea’s bad behavior.
