The North Korea launched on Wednesday apparent artillery drills in its waters on the disputed border with South Korea, as the US and South Korean top officers announced that their military will stage more joint exercises to warn North Korea Korea following itsattack on a South Korean island.

The North Korean shells landed in the country's own waters north of Baengnyeong Island on the disputed maritime border, a South Korean military official said Wednesday on condition of anonymity, citing military rules.

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is visiting Seoul to show solidarity in the wake of the attack which killed two marines and two civilians on Yeonpyeong island in November 23, held a press conference with his South Korean counterpart General Han Min-Koo.
Last month's deadly bombardment was "a deliberate and illegal armed attack" which violates the UN Charter and the armistice agreement which ended the 1950-53 war, they said in a joint statement after holding talks.

The military chiefs agreed to strengthen joint efforts to deter further North Korean attacks, saying that Pyongyang’s "inhumane actions of killing innocent civilians deserve condemnation".
Mullen and Han, in their statement read at the press conference, said it was essential to maintain military readiness "in the face of continued reckless behavior by North Korea," adding they would refine existing plans so they can "resolutely respond to further North Korean aggression".

CHINA’S ROLE IN THE KOREAN CRISES
Mullen said that china, the North’s major ally, “has a unique responsibility" to try to curb the behavior of its close ally but Beijing seems unwilling to use its influence.”

"The Chinese have enormous influence over the North, influence that no other nation on earth enjoys. And yet, despite a shared interest in reducing tensions, they appear unwilling to use it," the top US officer said.
"Even tacit approval of Pyongyang's brazenness leaves all their neighbors asking what will be next."

Mullen said he appreciated Beijing's offer to host an emergency meeting of delegates to six-party nuclear disarmament talks including the North's representative.
He added that he would leave Wednesday evening for talks in Tokyo on defence cooperation. "I only wish China were as helpful.

On the other hand, the State Department said Tuesday a high -level US delegation will visit China next week to discuss simmering tensions on the Korean peninsula and other regional security issues.
The US President Barack Obama’s administration will send it NO 2 diplomat, US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, to Beijing on December 14.
"They will meet senior officials to continue consultations with the Chinese on regional security issues, including recent developments on the Korean Peninsula," the State Department said.

The trip follows a meeting on Monday between the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton, and the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea in which they called on the North to stop "belligerent" behavior, including last month's attack.
They also rejected China's call for immediate talks with North Korea, saying the North first needed to prove its commitment to peace and return to six-nation nuclear disarmament talks.