Korea crisis: Yeonpyeong war games increase tension
Baku, December 20 (AZERTAC). The South Korean military has held live-firing exercises on Yeonpyeong island - the scene of a deadly attack by the North last month.
Pyongyang had threatened to retaliate, but there was no sign of fire from the North`s side of the border.
The North shelled the island during a drill last month, killing four people.
Earlier, the UN Security Council failed to reach a deal on the issue after eight hours of talks. China and Russia urged Seoul to halt the drill.
The South`s government has been under huge domestic pressure to take a tough stance towards Pyongyang, in the wake of the 23 November shelling by the North.
The issue has divided the permanent members of the Security Council - with China and Russia urging South Korea to put off the exercise, but the US saying its ally is entitled to make sure it is "properly prepared in the face of... ongoing provocations".
Russia`s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the international community had been left without a "game plan" to deal with tensions on the peninsula.
South Korea`s defence ministry said the drills, which began at 1430 (0530 GMT), ended after less than two hours.
Before the firing began, the South had said the artillery guns on Yeonpyeong would be aimed south-west, away from North Korea.
But the North claimed any ammunition fired would inevitably land in its territorial waters.
Yeonpyeong residents were told to move into air-raid shelters early on Monday - part of regular procedure during military exercises in the area.
Heavy fog delayed the start of the drill.
Pyongyang had said it would retaliate if the exercise went ahead.
The island is close to the two countries` disputed sea border, the Northern Limit Line, and within view of the North Korean mainland.
Pyongyang said it would deal an "unpredictable self-defensive blow" at the South Koreans.
For its part, South Korea said it would "immediately and sternly" deal with any North Korean response, according to an officer at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
Meanwhile, veteran US politician Bill Richardson is in North Korea on an unofficial visit, attempting to ease tensions.
Mr Richardson, governor of New Mexico, told CNN that he had held "very tough" talks with Maj Gen Pak Rim-su, who leads North Korean forces along the border with the South. He said he was confident progress had been made.
CNN reported that northern officials told Mr Richardson they would allow UN nuclear inspectors back into the country, but there has been no official comment.
The BBC`s Jane O`Brien in Washington says the US is in a tough spot, as there are 28,000 American troops stationed in the South, and they would almost certainly be drawn in if hostilities erupt.
The US is walking a diplomatic tightrope, trying to avoid that unfavourable option while remaining a strong ally to the South, our correspondent adds.
The island is normally home to some 1,300 residents along with hundreds of marines, but most civilians have fled to the mainland, leaving only about 100 remaining, Yonhap said.
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