http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40368094/SEOUL, South Korea — China expressed concern on Thursday about joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises in the Yellow Sea while North Korea threatened more attacks on the wealthy South if there are more "provocations."
Seoul said it would increase troops on islands near North Korea following Tuesday's bombardment of one of its small islands by Pyongyang's artillery, which has caused a sharp spike in tension.
Washington is putting increasing pressure on China to rein in North Korea, but a foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing said reviving the stalled six-party talks involving the two Koreas, Russia, China, Japan and the United States was urgently needed.
"We have noted the relevant reports and express our concern about this," spokesman Hong Lei said, referring to the joint military exercises and the involvement of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the drill.
