South Korea threatens North Korea

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SEOUL, July 3 (UPI) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Tuesday South Korea would not tolerate provocation from North Korea, threatening to retaliate with greater force.

Lee made the threat in a meeting with elders Tuesday regarding last week's 10-year anniversary of a naval skirmish with the North that killed six South Korean soldiers. Lee accused Pyongyang of premeditating the attack.

"We are making it clear that we will respond to whatever provocations North Korea makes with several times [the force]," Lee said. "We also asked China to relay this position of ours to North Korea."

Yonhap News Agency reported China's stance is it will withdraw support from North Korea in the event of additional provocations.