South Korea has held funerals for the two marines(海军陆战队员) killed when North Korea fired artillery shells at the South's Yeonpyeong island earlier this week.
It comes as the US calls on China to do more to increase its pressure on Pyongyang to prevent further incidents.
At least four South Koreans died in the incident - one of the worst clashes since the end of the Korean War.
The South, which returned fire, has announced it will begin joint military exercises with US forces on Sunday.
China has said its "top priority" is to keep the situation under control. Beijing has begun a series of talks with Washington, Seoul and Pyongyang in an attempt to ease the tensions.
The funeral（葬礼） for marines Seo Jeong-woo and Moon Kwang-wook was held at a military hospital in Seongnam, close to the capital, Seoul and broadcast live on national television.
Continue reading the main story“Start QuoteWe will make sure we take revenge on North Korea”
End QuoteMaj Gen You Nak-junMarine Corps Commander Hundreds of government and military officials, politicians, religious leaders, activists and civilians attended, said the Yonhap news agency.
Among them were Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and Maj Gen You Nak-jun, head of the marine corps.
"We'll certainly repay North Korea a hundred- and thousand-fold for killing and harming our marines," said Maj Gen You.
"South Korean active-duty marines and all reserve forces will engrave this anger and hostility in our bones and we will make sure we take revenge on North Korea."Officials and relatives placed white flowers on the two coffins draped in the South Korean flag. Marines sang as the coffins were carried out.
'Uncontrollable'
The soldiers were killed, along with two civilians, on Tuesday, when the North launched a sudden barrage of shells at Yeonpyeong island, close to the maritime border between the two countries.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑） |