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World Powers Express Alarm at Korean Artillery Duel

   VOA News 23 November 2010

   Major  powers around the world have expressed deep concern at a deadly
   exchange of artillery fire between North and South Korea.
   Some  of  the  toughest  language  came  from the United States, which
   condemned  North  Korea  for  attacking the South and demanded that it
   halt  its "belligerent action." Washington also renewed its commitment
   to defend South Korea from any attack.
   China,  on  the  other  hand,  said  both  Koreas needed to do more to
   maintain  peace  between  them, and called for an urgent resumption of
   six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programs.
   Russia, Britain and Germany also commented, expressing varying degrees
   of alarm.
   Russian  Foreign  Minister  Sergei  Lavrov  said  he  sees a "colossal
   danger"  that  the  fighting  will  escalate,  while  British  Foreign
   Secretary  William  Hague  condemned  Pyongyang  for  its  "unprovoked
   attack."
   German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said he is "very worried" by
   the artillery exchange.
   North  Korea  fired more than 50 shells into a populated border island
   while South Korean troops were conducting a military exercise, killing
   two soldiers and wounding both soldiers and civilians.
   Pyongyang  said the strikes were made in response to South Korean fire
   - presumably during the military drill. The South said its troops were
   firing away from the North Korean mainland.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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