[ Concerns Over Firing Exercise Near Yeonpyeong Island ]
China and Russia vetoed a draft statement to “deplore” North Korea’s attack on Yeonpyeong Island, which was proposed by Britain during an emergency meeting Sunday.
Russia called the emergency Security Council meeting to discuss rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
A western diplomat told Yonhap that the talks would continue but that the gaps between the countries are great.
Most international parties would like “the situation to calm down and try to find out ways to establish peace and security through dialogue,” said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday, calling for “restraint on the part of DPRK.”
Russia and China have asked South Korea to cancel its scheduled live-fire drill and return to the six-party talks.
Before these talks can resume, Japan, South Korea, and the United States have demanded an apology from North Korea for the sinking of a South Korean vessel in March, and the shelling of Yeonpyeong in November, as well as a commitment to end its nuclear weapons program, according to Yonhap.
South Korea announced Sunday it had postponed, but not canceled the disputed live-fire drills, due to bad weather. Before it cancels the drills, South Korea, and the United States, want the Security Council to denounce North Korea’s deadly bombardment of the island, according to Yonhap.
