China warns N. Korea against new attacks: reports

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China warns N. Korea against new attacks: reports

By Kim Jae-Hwan | AFP – 22 minutes ago

China has warned its ally North Korea against making any further attacks on

South Korea following two deadly border incidents last year, the South's

President Lee Myung-Bak was quoted Friday as saying.

Lee made the remarks during a lunch meeting Thursday with members of the

parliamentary defence committee, Yonhap news agency and Chosun Ilbo newspaper

reported.

" China delivered its intentions (to South Korea) that it won't stand by the

North if it makes an additional provocation, " Lee said, according to an

unidentified legislator quoted by Yonhap.

It was not clear when the Chinese message was delivered.

Beijing has also made its stance clear to Pyongyang, Lee was quoted by Chosun

Ilbo as saying.

A presidential spokeswoman could not immediately confirm Lee's reported remarks.

China is the North's last remaining major ally and its key source of food and

fuel. It came in for criticism for failing publicly to censure the North

following the two incidents last year.

The South, citing the findings of a multinational investigation, accused its

neighbour of torpedoing a warship in March 2010 with the loss of 46 lives.

The North denied involvement but last November shelled a South Korean border

island, killing four people including civilians.

Tensions remain high and the North's military has recently threatened

retaliation for what it sees as provocations by the South.

China has said it works behind the scenes to restrain the North.

" We are trying to persuade them not to take risks, " media reports quoted its

Defence Minister Liang Guanglie as telling a Singapore forum this month.

President Lee was also quoted as saying he still feels " outraged " at the

artillery attack on Yeonpyeong island, which killed two Marines and two

civilians and damaged dozens of buildings.

The South's military was criticised for an allegedly feeble response to the

barrage. It has vowed to hit back harder against any new attack, using air

power.

Lee is pushing military reforms to improve coordination between the army, navy,

air force and Marines and reportedly urged the parliamentary committee to

support a series of reform bills this month.