UN Chief Calls For Korea Restraint After North`s Attack

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called Tuesday for restraint by the two Koreas after condemning an artillery attack by the communist North on the rival South, a spokesman said.

No country has yet requested a meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the attack however, diplomats said.

"The secretary general condemns the attack and calls for immediate restraint," said a spokesman for the UN leader in a statement. Ban is "deeply concerned by the escalation of tension on the Korean peninsula caused by today`s artillery attack" by the North.

"The secretary general insists that any differences should be resolved by peaceful means and dialogue," added the statement.

Ban has expressed his "utmost concern" to the British presidency of the Security Council, but the British ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said that no country has yet requested a meeting of the council to discuss the attack.

Diplomats said that no request was expected on Wednesday as the international powers would have to first decide what concrete steps the council could take in reaction.

The Security Council took several days to take action over the sinking of a South Korean warship in March, which has been blamed on the North.

North Korea`s mission to the United Nations refused to discuss the latest incident when contacted by AFP.