Washington: The Pentagon said on Saturday that its military leader pledged "unwavering commitment" of the US to South Korea`s defence.
According to a Pentagon statement, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E Dempsey, called his South Korean counterpart Adm. Choi Yoon-Hee late on Friday night and reiterated the strength of the US-South Korea alliance, Xinhua reporetd.
The two military chiefs concurred they would watch North Korea`s actions closely in the coming days and would ensure that the US and South Korea continue to work closely with each other to deter the North`s "provocations and defuse tensions".
North and South Korea started high-level urgent contacts earlier Saturday in the truce village of Panmunjom to discuss the prevailing tense situation on the peninsula.
The meeting is the highest level inter-Korean contact since President Park took office in February 2013. It came amid escalated tensions caused by cross-border exchange of fire on Thursday over South Korea`s propaganda broadcasts.
North Korea warned that unless South Korea stops propaganda broadcasts in frontline areas before 5 pm, it will take military action. South Korea threatened stern retaliation against any further provocations.
