South Korea calls on North Korea to halt moves that have raised tensions

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea's Defense Ministry is calling on North Korea to halt its recent moves that have raised tensions on the peninsula.

In a statement, the ministry said Wednesday that the North should stop its criticism of Seoul that erupted after the South's top military officer last week said the country could strike suspected North Korean nuclear targets if there were signs of an imminent atomic attack.

The North has condemned the statement and warned it would turn the South to "ashes" in its own pre-emptive attack. The South's ministry called such statements "regrettable" and said Seoul was always prepared for dialogue to foster peace and ease tensions.

© The Canadian Press, 2008