US assures shoulder to shoulder support for ‘close friend and ally’ South Korea

WASHINGTON - United States President Barack Obama has said that his country would stand “shoulder to shoulder” with South Korea and stage joint military exercises in response to ‘a provocative, outrageous attack’ by North Korea on its neighbor.

Obama’s comment comes after the North Korean shelling of a South Korean island on Tuesday.

“South Korea is our ally. It has been since the Korean war and we strongly affirm our commitment to defend South Korea as part of that alliance,” Fox News quoted Obama, as saying.

“We strongly condemn the attack and we are rallying the international community to put pressure on North Korea,” he added.

Meanwhile, a White House statement said that Obama called South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday night, where the two presidents agreed to hold combined military exercises and enhanced training in the days ahead to continue the close security cooperation between the two countries.

“Obama assured Lee that the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with our close friend and ally, the Republic of Korea,” the White House statement said.

“President Obama said that North Korea must stop its provocative actions, which will only lead to further isolation, and fully abide by the terms of the armistice agreement and its obligations under international law,” the statement added. (ANI)