Across Asia: Korean Peninsula

Artillery fire continues

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired more artillery near its disputed western sea border with the Republic of Korea (ROK) yesterday, a day after it lobbed dozens of shells during military exercises to which Seoul responded with warning shots.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman yesterday called for all parties to preserve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula after DPRK and ROK exchanged artillery fire around a contentious maritime border. "We noticed reports and hope concerned sides can step up efforts to jointly safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula, which conforms to the fundamental interests of all sides," spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told a regular briefing.