"The president, speaking to ABC News, would not speculate when asked about military options."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Obama: U.S. will defend South Korea from aggression
Diplomats try to defuse tension after artillery strike by North Korea

NBC News and news services
updated 39 minutes ago



People look as smoke rises from South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island after being hit by dozens of artillery shells fired by North Korea on Tuesday in this picture taken by a South Korean tourist.

INCHEON, South Korea — International diplomats scrambled Tuesday to defuse tensions in the Koreas after North Korea bombarded a South Korean island with artillery shells, killing at least two people. President Barack Obama pledged the United States would defend Seoul from aggression by its communist neighbor.

Yet with its options limited, the U.S. sought a diplomatic rather a military response to one of those most ominous clashes between the Koreas in decades.

"South Korea is our ally. It has been since the Korean War," Obama said. "And we strongly affirm our commitment to defend South Korea as part of that alliance."

The president, speaking to ABC News, would not speculate when asked about military options. He was expected to telephone South Korean President Lee Myung-bak Tuesday night, and he met into the evening with his top national security advisers to discuss next steps.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40329269/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. China is nearer, let them sort it out!

[Xipe Totec]

3. They are likely to support North Korea

I don't think that's in our best interest.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. They don't support N Korea

[Xipe Totec]

14. Really? nt

[Clio the Leo]

11. Fortunately, they're coming down on the side of condemnation..

.... as much as they can anyway. Better than silence or an endorsement I guess.

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=109416&code=Ne2&category=2

[Rosa Luxemburg]

13. it's in their backyard

[grumgrum]

6. China will Join N. Korea...and so will Begin WW3

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. I doubt it!

[Xipe Totec]

15. Sure! easy bet. If you're right, you collect.

if you're wrong, nobody will be alive to collect.

[bluestateguy]

2. They didn't attack US forces, so I see it as an internal matter for then to resolve

Yes, we should be keeping our eye on it, but until or unless US forces in Korea are attacked, I don't see how this should concern us at all.

[Lil Missy]

4. *face palm*

[sally cat]

5. Uh, how about we stay out of it.

[Codeine]

7. Treaty obligations say otherwise. nt

[impik]

8. He did not speculate, and this is news?

[Clio the Leo]

12. He's sending in George.....

... the USS George Washington that is...

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11-23/obama-tells-lee-u-s-stands-by-south-korea-joint-drills-planned.html