Text Fwd: South Korea To Begin Major War Games Tomorrow

* Texts informed by Rick Rozoff on Dec. 22, 2010

Xinhua News Agency
December 22, 2010
S Korea to stage ground, air firing drill Thursday

SEOUL: South Korea plans to hold a major drill Thursday involving artillery guns and fighter jets following its live-fire drill near a disputed sea border earlier this week, the Army said Wednesday.

The ground and air firing drill, which officials said is part of routine exercises, will take place at a firing range in Pocheon, 40 kilometers northeast of Seoul and 25 kilometers south of the heavily fortified land border between the two Koreas.

It follows a firing drill Monday from the western border island of Yeonpyeong shelled last month by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The country also started Wednesday four- day sea maneuvers in waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula.

The series of routine exercises come amid heightened tension in the region as South Korea remains on alert against retaliation from the DPRK, which did not immediately respond to Monday's brief shooting drill it had vehemently protested.

Related:

S Korea begins four-day sea maneuvers in East Sea

SEOUL: South Korea will hold four-day drills in waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula starting Wednesday, two days after it conducted a live-fire exercise near a tense border, the defense ministry said.

The exercise, reportedly to be held about 100 kilometers south of the eastern sea border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), will involve navy vessels and Lynx helicopters, according to local reports.
China calls for restraint, dialogue on Korean Peninsula issue

BEIJING: China Tuesday urged all parties involved in the Korean Peninsula situation to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid future unfortunate incidents.

"The Korean Peninsula situation is still complicated and sensitive," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular news briefing as she called on all parties to have a responsible attitude.Full story

Russian, DPRK diplomats discuss situation on Korean peninsula

MOSCOW: Diplomats of Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) met here Tuesday and discussed possible measures to stabilize the situation on Korean peninsula.

During the meeting with the DPRK ambassador to Moscow Kim Yong Jae, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin stressed that Russia is seeking "solutions to the issues between Pyongyang and Seoul by political-diplomatic ways," according to a statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Full story

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See also
Defense News
Top Chinese Diplomat: Korean Tensions Came Close To War
Agence France-Presse
December 21, 2010

Ros Business Consulting News Online
Russia Urges Resumption Of Korean Six-Party Talks
December 22, 2010