2010-11-25 15:43

PYONGYANG - The military of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday blamed the United States for "misrepresenting" the shelling incident, warning of retaliations if there are more "military provocations" by the Republic of Korea (ROK).

"Korean People's Army will deal without hesitation the second and third strong physical retaliatory blow" in that case, the Panmunjom Mission of the Korean People's Army said in a notice sent to the US forces in the ROK, according to the official KCNA news agency.

The KCNA blamed the United States for its attempt to misrepresent the shelling incident, "while thoughtlessly shielding the ROK puppet forces who dared make a preempt shelling at the DPRK."

The exchange of artillery fire on Tuesday between the two sides killed four people.

In the notice, the DPRK army said the situation goes to prove that it is the ROK forces "which actually violated the Armistice Agreement and it was none other than the US which sparked off the conflict in the above-said waters."

The United States has publicly voiced support for the ROK after the shellings, pledging to protect ROK and would stand "shoulder to shoulder" with the Asian ally.

The shelling incident has escalated the already-tense situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Pyongyang and Seoul have blamed each other for setting off the artillery attacks.

In the notice, the DPRK military reiterated its claim that it's ROK fired shells into DPRK territories without announcement while staging military exercises, straining the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

ROK has reinforced the security forces in the area and ordered extra troops deployed on islands near the DPRK side on Thursday.

The latest clash was seen as an omen of further deterioration of the situation on the Peninsula following a longtime stall of the Six-Party Talks and the sinking of a ROK warship in late March.