UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday called North Korea's attack on a South Korea island "one of the gravest incidents since the end of the Korean War."
Ban called for restraint after the artillery attack by North Korea on Yeongpyeong Island, located near its coastline in the Yellow Sea and belonging to South Korea.
South Korea authorities said their troops returned fire after North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells at its island, killing two marines and wounding several people. South Korea placed its military on its highest non-wartime alert following the incident.
Meanwhile, North Korea reportedly accused South Korea of firing first, while Seoul said it had been conducting exercises but directed shelling away from its northern neighbor.
"The secretary-general insists that any differences should be resolved by peaceful means and dialogue," a statement from Ban said.
In July, the U.N. Security Council condemned the sinking of a South Korea naval vessel that took place in March, in which 46 people died. The findings of an international investigative report released by Seoul concluded that the vessel was hit by a torpedo launched by North Korea.
