Amerika Syarikat menjadi pengacum krisis Korea?

23 Zulhijjah 1431H - China has called emergency talks with North Korea, in a bid to diffuse tensions as United States and South Korea begin joint military exercises in waters west of the Korean Peninsula.

China suggested talks between the six governments involved in stalled negotiations aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear programme.

An official from US forces-Korea said that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington had joined the four-day exercises. North Korea responded by placing surface-to-surface missiles on launch pads in the Yellow Sea, the Yonhap news agency reported. It said the state had moved surface-to-air missiles near frontline areas.

North Korea has promised a "merciless military counterattack" against any intrusion into its territorial waters, the country’s official news agency reported.

(Photo: The joint US-South Korea military exercises were organised before Tuesday's exchange of artillery fire [Reuters])

More: Reports by al-Jazzera.