S. Korea ends live-fire drills near border

Yonhap news agency says South Korea has ended maritime artillery drills from a front-line island attacked last month by North Korea.

South Korea said it launched fighter jets to deter any North Korean attacks during the hour-long drills on Yeonpyeong, a tiny enclave of fishing communities and military bases only about11 kilometres from North Korean shores.

There were no immediate signs of any North Korean retaliation.

The island was shelled by the North after similar drills in November. Two marines and two civilians were killed.

The North, which considers the waters around Yeonpyeong its own territory, had warned of a "catastrophe" if the Southwent ahead with the drills. South Koreaevacuated island residents to underground bunkers.

On Sunday, the UN Security Council met to debate the rising tensions between the two Koreas.

The meetingwas requested by RussiaafterNorth Korea fired artillery shells atYeonpyeong on Nov. 23, killing four people.

TheSecurity Council meeting, which began shortly after 11 a.m. ET, lasted for8hours andendedwithouta statement to address the simmeringtensions in the Korean peninsula.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said the United States and other council members demanded that the council condemn North Korea for two deadly attacks this year that have helped send relations to their lowest point in decades. But diplomats said China strongly objected.

The council couldmeet againMonday, a diplomat told Reuters.Rice said, however,that"the gaps that remain are unlikely to be bridged."

The meetingcomes at a time when the North is warning offresh strikes against the South.

North Korea is promising to strike back with even more force than it used on Yeonpyeong last month if the live-fire drills are carried out.

Residents on Yeonpyeong and four other islandswere ordered to take shelter beforethe drills because of possible attacks by North Korea.

South Korea's military will "immediately and sternly" deal with any possible provocation by North Korea, saidtheofficer at the Joint Chiefs of Staff.