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Diplomatic Flurry Precedes Korean War Games

   VOA News 27 November 2010
   A  map of possible North Korean artillery positions hangs over a phone
   and  a  radio  inside  a  guard  post  on  the  South Korean island of
   Yeonpyeong, 26 Nov 2010

Photo: AP

   A  map of possible North Korean artillery positions hangs over a phone
   and  a  radio  inside  a  guard  post  on  the  South Korean island of
   Yeonpyeong, 26 Nov 2010

   China  launched  a  flurry  of  diplomatic  activity  Saturday to ease
   tensions  on  the  Korean  peninsula after North Korea's shelling of a
   South Korean island.
   The  diplomatic  activity  came  as  the United States and South Korea
   prepared for military exercises. Â
   The  two  countries  are scheduled to begin the long-planned war games
   Sunday,  less  than a week after North Korean forces shelled the South
   Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing two marines and two civilians.
   North  Korea's  state-run media has criticized the drills, warning the
   two Koreas are on "the brink of war."
   China  Saturday  sent  two  top  officials to Seoul to meet with South
   Korea's foreign minister in an effort to promote calm.
   Chinese   Foreign   Minister  Yang  Jiechi  also  called  his  Russian
   counterpart Sergei Lavrov for consultations.
   Chinese  officials  say both moves were focused on easing tensions and
   kick-starting stalled talks over North Korea's nuclear program.
   China  has warned it opposes any "unilateral military act" in the area
   without its permission, referring to the U.S.-South Korean drills.
   Admiral  Mike Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told
   CNN, in an interview due to air Sunday, that, as North Korea's closest
   ally,  China  has  as  much  at  stake  as  anyone  if  the  region is
   destabilized.
   Meanwhile,   North  Korea  leveled  new  accusations  at  South  Korea
   Saturday,  charging  Seoul  was  using  the civilians on the island of
   Yeonpyeong as a human shields.
   The  North's  official  Korean  Central News Agency also said if there
   were civilian deaths, they were "very regrettable."
   South  Korea  also  upped the rhetoric Saturday during the funeral for
   the two marines killed in Tuesday's attack by Pyongyang.
   Marine   commander   Lieutenant   General   Yoo   Nak-joon   vowed   a
   "thousand-fold"  retaliation  against  the  North.   The  comments to
   hundreds  of high-ranking politicians, generals, religious leaders and
   civilians were also broadcast nation-wide.

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

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