ID :
89988
Tue, 11/17/2009 - 00:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/89988
The shortlink copeid
Lee says N. Korea showing no sign of military provocation
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Monday asked the nation not
to overreact to movements by the North Korean military following a recent naval
skirmish between the two Koreas, according to presidential spokesman Park
Sun-kyoo.
Lee said "exaggerated" reports by local media on inter-Korean tension have caused
unnecessary unrest among the public, noting there has been no unusual military
movement in North Korea since last week's naval battle off the west coast.
Lee's remarks came in a weekly meeting with his top presidential secretaries.
"I think we are seeing unnecessary fears being fostered by mention of possible
movements by North Korean military though there are no unusual movements," the
president was quoted as telling the meeting.
"As even a small mention of issues related to North Korea could make people feel
uneasy, we need to accurately explain the situation to the press and ask for
their cooperation," Park quoted the president as saying.
Fears of a North Korean provocation surged after naval forces of South and North
Korea clashed last week near a disputed sea border in the Yellow Sea, also the
site of two deadly skirmishes between the divided Koreas in 1999 and 2002.
The North's military has demanded an apology for the incident from Seoul, which
maintains the armed clash erupted after the North Korean ship violated the
western sea border, called the Northern Limit Line, and fired some 50 rounds, 15
of which hit a South Korean patrol boat.
The Rodong Sinmun, a daily published by North Korea's Workers' Party, warned
Thursday in a signed commentary that "South Korean forces will be forced to pay
dearly for the grave armed provocation."
Kim Sung-hwan, top secretary to the president for foreign affairs and national
security, said there were no unusual activities by the North Korean military or
any significant changes in the inter-Korean relations.
"As of now, there have been several cases where a (South Korean) civic
organization voluntarily called off their visit to North Korea, but all other
inter-Korean cooperation projects are being run without any significant
disruption," Kim was quoted as saying at the meeting.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Monday asked the nation not
to overreact to movements by the North Korean military following a recent naval
skirmish between the two Koreas, according to presidential spokesman Park
Sun-kyoo.
Lee said "exaggerated" reports by local media on inter-Korean tension have caused
unnecessary unrest among the public, noting there has been no unusual military
movement in North Korea since last week's naval battle off the west coast.
Lee's remarks came in a weekly meeting with his top presidential secretaries.
"I think we are seeing unnecessary fears being fostered by mention of possible
movements by North Korean military though there are no unusual movements," the
president was quoted as telling the meeting.
"As even a small mention of issues related to North Korea could make people feel
uneasy, we need to accurately explain the situation to the press and ask for
their cooperation," Park quoted the president as saying.
Fears of a North Korean provocation surged after naval forces of South and North
Korea clashed last week near a disputed sea border in the Yellow Sea, also the
site of two deadly skirmishes between the divided Koreas in 1999 and 2002.
The North's military has demanded an apology for the incident from Seoul, which
maintains the armed clash erupted after the North Korean ship violated the
western sea border, called the Northern Limit Line, and fired some 50 rounds, 15
of which hit a South Korean patrol boat.
The Rodong Sinmun, a daily published by North Korea's Workers' Party, warned
Thursday in a signed commentary that "South Korean forces will be forced to pay
dearly for the grave armed provocation."
Kim Sung-hwan, top secretary to the president for foreign affairs and national
security, said there were no unusual activities by the North Korean military or
any significant changes in the inter-Korean relations.
"As of now, there have been several cases where a (South Korean) civic
organization voluntarily called off their visit to North Korea, but all other
inter-Korean cooperation projects are being run without any significant
disruption," Kim was quoted as saying at the meeting.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
