By Martin Banks - 23rd November 2010
China needs to finally step up the pressure on Pyongyang
Jelko Kacin
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton has been urged to help bring an end to an "appalling" rise in tension between North and South Korea.
The demand, from the EPP group in parliament, comes after North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells at one of South Korea's border islands, killing two marines.
North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island on Tuesday, setting homes ablaze and triggering an exchange of fire as the South's military went on top alert.
South Korea said it later returned fire.
Sources said the South's military was placed on its highest non-wartime alert after the shells landed on Yeonpyeong island.
Pyongyang accused the South of firing first. The Southern military said it had conducted exercises but shelling was directed away from the North.
There have been occasional cross-border incidents since the conflict ended without a peace treaty in 1953, but the latest comes at a time of rising regional tension and analysts say this is one of the worst clashes since the Korean War ended.
In an initial response to the outbreak, Ashton said she was "deeply concerned" at latest events on the Korean Peninsula.
In a statement, she added, "I strongly condemn this attack by the DPRK. I call on the North Korean authorities to refrain from any action that risks further escalation and to fully respect the Korean armistice agreement."
Ashton said she welcomed South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak's call for restraint.
"We are monitoring developments closely. I would like to underline that peace and stability on the Korean peninsula remains essential for the region and the wider world," Ashton said.
UK foreign minister William Hague condemned the shellings and urged Pyongyang to refrain from further attacks, which he described as "unprovoked".
The White House hit out at the bombings and called on North Korea to "halt its belligerent action", while China expressed worry over the latest escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula saying the divided nations should "do more to contribute to peace".
MEPs, meanwhile, were quick to respond to the situation with parliament's president, Jerzy Buzek saying he was "deeply concerned at the aggression of North Korea against South Korea".
He said, "I strongly condemn the attack of the DPRK against the South-Korean island Yeonpyeong and I am deeply concerned regarding today's events on the Korean Peninsula.
"Using force and military power will not solve any issue and a further loss of human lives must be avoided. In the interest of the Korean Peninsula and the wider region, the North and South should make efforts to re-build confidence in a durable way.
"This is why I welcome the announcement of President Lee Myung-bak that intends to avoid the escalation of the worrying situation."
He called on the government of the DPRK to "immediately stop any hostile actions and to refrain from all activities that risk further escalation."
The EPP group, parliament's biggest, issued a statement, saying, "We are disturbed and appalled at the news of this attack by North Korea on South Korea."
Ioannis Kasoulides, EPP deputy leader who is responsible for foreign affairs, added, "We urge the two parties to cease hostilities immediately."
He said his group "calls on all parties to exercise restraint, to use every possible means to improve inter-Korean relations and to step up their efforts to promote lasting peace and security in the Korean Peninsula".
"We expect Baroness Ashton to act in a concerted manner with other international actors, our allies and China for the full compliance by North Korea of the armistice agreement," he added.
"The descalation of the situation is our first priority."
Further reaction came from Slovenia ALDE deputy Jelko Kacin, a member of the delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula.
Kacin said, "It is unbelievable that the regime would once again use an armed conflict to facilitate the transition of power to the new generation of the Kim dynasty," he said.
"The North needs to establish a firm civilian control over the army, which is trying to tighten the grip on its impoverished population. It is time to move past cold war thinking in both Koreas."
Kacin drafted a parliament resolution this June on the situation in the Korean Peninsula which urged both sides to refrain from escalating tensions.
He added, "This is a serious moment for the UN security council and the international community, including the EU, to find a way to continue the six party talks as soon as possible on the basis of the neutral nations supervisory commission report.
"China needs to finally step up the pressure on Pyongyang and fulfil its regional and international responsibility."
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