US Calls North Korean Artillery Strike Armistice Violation

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US Calls North Korean Artillery Strike Armistice Violation

24 November 2010

The United States said Wednesday North Korea's lethal artillery strike on a

South Korean island was premeditated and a violation of the 1953 Korean War

armistice. But U.S. officials do not believe Pyongyang is preparing for an

extended military campaign.

Officials here are not minimizing the seriousness of the North Korean artillery

barrage, which they call a serious provocation and a deliberate violation of the

Korean armistice.

But they say they are not observing preparations for a broader conflict by North

Korea, and say they are looking to China to play a " pivotal " role in restraining

its neighbor.

State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters the United States is

engaged in wide-ranging diplomacy with China and others in the aftermath of the

artillery clash, and intends to raise the matter directly with North Korea in

the armistice framework.

The spokesman rejected North Korea's claim it acted in self defense after South

Korean shelling in a military exercise. He said North Korea attacked the South

Korean island hours after the routine exercise ended, in an obviously

premeditated act, but that there has been no sign of a broader aggressive move

by the North.

" This was in our view a one-off, premeditated act, " said Crowley. " Without

getting into intelligence matters, we don't see that North Korea is preparing

for an extended military confrontation. That's what makes it not a war. It is a

violation of the armistice. Among other things, we will have a conversation

with North Korean general officers and make clear that this is a violation of

the armistice. "

Crowley said responsibility for the current crisis " rests exclusively " with

North Korea, and the United States recognizes that China - despite being its

main ally and aid provider - cannot dictate to Pyongyang.

Nonetheless he said Beijing has influence with North Korea, and the United

States expects China to clear as to where the blame rests, and that Pyongyang

should not be allowed to derive comfort from thus-far ambivalent Chinese

statements on the issue.

President Obama late Tuesday announced U.S.-South Korean military exercises in

the wake of the artillery attack, that will include dispatch of the nuclear

aircraft carrier Washington to waters off the Korean peninsula.

China has previously opposed such exercises but Crowley said they contribute to

stability for the entire region including China.

" We have a military alliance with South Korea and we will continue to do what we

need to do with South Korea to cooperate, " he said. " Our alliance with South

Korea provides stability and protection, and many, many countries, including

China, benefit from the alliance that we have with South Korea and others in the

region. "

The spokesman said the United States is engaged in broad diplomatic

consultations on both the artillery incident and recent claimed advances in

North Korea's nuclear program.

Crowley said there have been preliminary contacts in the U.N. Security Council,

but there is no indication an emergency council session is being sought.