Barack Obama condemns North Korea’s attacks on South Korea

American President Barack Obama has condemned North Korea’s shelling of Yeonpyeong island and said his country would defend South Korea.

” A serious threat that needs to be dealt with,” Obama told ABC News in reference to North Korea’s artillery attack on South Korea on early Tuesday.

The attack near a disputed sea border was also denounced by Russia, Japan and the European Union.

South Korea also retaliated and threatened missile strikes if there were “further provocations”.

President Obama said South Korea is an important ally and “a cornerstone of US security in the Pacific region.

“We strongly affirm our commitment to defend South Korea as part of that alliance.We want to make sure all the parties in the region recognise that this is a serious and ongoing threat that needs to be dealt with.”

He called on North Korea’s ally China to communicate to Pyongyang “that there are a set of international rules they need to abide by”.

Two South Korean marines died when dozens of artillery shells landed on the island – most of them hitting a military base. Both soldiers and civilians were wounded.

The South fired back some 80 shells., but casualties on the northern side are unknown.

The US has 28,000 troops stationed in the South.