U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Tuesday blasted North Korea for firing artillery shells on a South Korean island near the western sea border earlier in the day.
The U.N. chief said in a statement that he "condemns the attack and calls for immediate restraint."
"The attack was one of the gravest incidents since the end of the Korean War,' he said, insisting, "Any differences should be resolved by peaceful means and dialogue."
Earlier Tuesday, North Korea fired dozens of rounds of artillery onto Yeonpyeong island and surrounding waters, killing at least two South Korean soldiers.