South Korea plans to hold major artillery training exercises next week – including some in an area close to its disputed maritime border with the North, media in Seoul reported today.
Analysts warned the move, which emerged as the South's military completed joint drills with a US aircraft carrier group, could increase tensions already running high in the wake of last week's attack by the North.
China's foreign minister called for restraint, and said all parties should avoid any actions that could "inflame the situation".
"Our general goal is for all sides to exercise calm and restraint and to make every effort to avoid such incidents recurring," Yang Jiechi said.
Yang Jiechi said China, North Korea's main ally, did not seek to "protect any side" and would not "pour oil on the flames", according to the official Xinhua news agency.
The shelling last week of Yeonpyeong island killed two civilians and two soldiers. Pyongyang said it was responding to the South's live-fire drill.
The South Korean news agency Yonhap said the military had issued an advisory notice to local vessels for a six-day period from next Monday, covering 29 locations.
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