India asks North, South Korea to return to negotiations

NEW DELHI - India Wednesday urged Pyongyang and Seoul to maintain peace in the Korean peninsula and stressed the need to return to negotiations after North Korea shelled a South Korean island.

“We express our sympathies at the tragic loss of lives and injuries caused to the civilian population of Yeonpyeong Island, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

“We urge both sides to maintain peace and stability in the region, and stress the need to respect international obligations and for return to negotiations, the ministry said.

The two countries exchanged artillery fire Tuesday afternoon after North Korea shelled Yeonpyeong Island near the disputed sea border, killing at least two South Korean marines and setting dozens of buildings ablaze.

This was the most dramatic escalation between long-standing rivals in decades and came days after it emerged that Pyongyang was pressing ahead with its illegal nuclear programme.