Ma orders alert on Korean conflict

Foreign Minister Timothy Yang yesterday criticized North Korea for firing artillery onto a South Korean island near their disputed western border and called for a halt to such actions.

Minister Yang made the remarks after President Ma called a small-scale national security meeting in the late afternoon.

Ma also called off campaign activities for the ruling Kuomintang's candidates in the Nov. 27 Taipei and Xinbei municipality elections — Hau Lung-bin and Eric Liluan Chu — scheduled for that night.

He remained at the Presidential Office and was kept abreast of the latest developments on the peninsula.

Johnny Chiang, chief of the Government Information Office, said at a press conference that both the president and premier have been closely monitoring the situation since the latest military conflict took place.

Chiang said the nation's troops have maintained combat preparedness for possible escalation of the armed conflict.

The Ministry of National Defense already assigned Gen. Chen Yung-kang, the deputy chief of general staff, to take up position at the Hengshan Military Command to closely monitor the situation.

Chiang urged both North Korea and South Korea to exercise restrain for a peaceful settlement of disputes.

He said most Taiwanese in Korea stay in the capital Seoul and Bushan City with quite a distance from the disputed island.

The government has no plan to raise the alert level for travelers to Korea for now. But the government will be closely watching possible new developments.

He also reminded people planning to take trips to Korea to remain alert and take extra precautions for personal safety.

The new military skirmish began when Pyongyang warned the South to halt military drills in the area, according to South Korean officials. When Seoul refused, the North bombarded the small South Korean-held island of Yeonpyeong, which houses military installations and a small civilian population.

Officials in Seoul said South Korea returned fire and scrambled fighter jets in response, and said the incident was an “inhumane” attack on civilian areas

There were reports that at least two South Korean marines were killed and 16 others injured.

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