Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Russia has urged South Korea to halt plans for an artillery drill that North Korea had said hours earlier would prompt a new strike at the South.
"The Russian Federation insistently calls on the Republic of Korea to refrain from holding the planned firing of artillery in order to prevent the further escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula," the Foreign Ministry said.
It said a similar drill on Nov 23 had "provoked an exchange of fire ... that caused casualties," echoing Pyongyang's assertion that its shelling of an island near a disputed maritime border was a response to South Korean artillery firing.
North Korea said earlier on Friday that it would strike again, with an even stronger response than the shelling that killed four people last month, if Seoul goes ahead with its planned live-firing drill on Yeonpyeong Island on Dec. 18-21.
The Russian statement marked a shift to a tougher line on South Korea's military drills.
When Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his North Korean counterpart on Monday, Lavrov said military exercises had added to tension but also that the North's shelling of the island deserved condemnation, according to the ministry.
On Friday, the Russian ministry expressed "deep concern" about South Korea's planned drill and said it was "extremely important" to ease tension between the two Koreas, restore dialogue and resolve all disputes without using force.
Russia, which shares a short border with North Korea, has put its forces in the nation's far east on alert because of the Korean tension, the Interfax news agency cited the chief of the military General Staff as saying on Tuesday.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments