Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Indonesian government has called for the immediate resumption of dialogue and other non-traditional initiatives to intensify peaceful communication between North Korea and South Korea.
The statement was delivered by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry in a press statement received by Antara here on Monday.
Regarding the crossfire and military tensions erupting between North and South Korea in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on August 20, Indonesia called on both sides to remain calm and maintain restraint.
The Indonesian government also stressed the importance of reducing tensions and maintaining conducive conditions for continued peace, stability and development in both countries and in the region.
Earlier, North Korea and South Korea had exchanged artillery fire on the border between the two countries, which are heavily guarded by the military. This incident had resulted in no casualties, but had aggravated tensions at the border.
North Korea had continued its hostile actions by sending an ultimatum through military channels that it was providing 48 hours for South Korea to stop any propaganda through loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, otherwise it would face further military action.
The South Korean Defense Ministry had ignored the calls, saying that the propaganda will be continued.
The shootout at the inter-Korean border was a rare event, according to an observer, because both sides had acknowledged the risk of a sudden rise in tensions between the two countries, which are technically still at war.
Thursday's incident occured amidst rising tensions, following a mine explosion that injured two South Korean border patrol officers in August and the launch of joint military exercises of South Korea and the United States, which had angered Pyongyang.
South Korea and North Korea had agreed to hold a high-level meeting on Saturday before the end of the deadline issued by North Korea. (WDY)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015
The statement was delivered by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry in a press statement received by Antara here on Monday.
Regarding the crossfire and military tensions erupting between North and South Korea in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on August 20, Indonesia called on both sides to remain calm and maintain restraint.
The Indonesian government also stressed the importance of reducing tensions and maintaining conducive conditions for continued peace, stability and development in both countries and in the region.
Earlier, North Korea and South Korea had exchanged artillery fire on the border between the two countries, which are heavily guarded by the military. This incident had resulted in no casualties, but had aggravated tensions at the border.
North Korea had continued its hostile actions by sending an ultimatum through military channels that it was providing 48 hours for South Korea to stop any propaganda through loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, otherwise it would face further military action.
The South Korean Defense Ministry had ignored the calls, saying that the propaganda will be continued.
The shootout at the inter-Korean border was a rare event, according to an observer, because both sides had acknowledged the risk of a sudden rise in tensions between the two countries, which are technically still at war.
Thursday's incident occured amidst rising tensions, following a mine explosion that injured two South Korean border patrol officers in August and the launch of joint military exercises of South Korea and the United States, which had angered Pyongyang.
South Korea and North Korea had agreed to hold a high-level meeting on Saturday before the end of the deadline issued by North Korea. (WDY)
Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015