S. Korea's president apologizes to nation for N. Korea's attack+

SEOUL, Nov. 29 Kyodo -
South Korean President Lee Myung Bak on Monday apologized to the nation for
North Korea's artillery attack on a South Korean island in the Yellow Sea last
week, which killed four people and caused extensive damage.
''As the president, I stand here with a deep feeling of responsibility for
being unable to protect the lives and property of the people,'' Lee said in a
nationally televised speech.
''I am truly sorry and express a feeling of regret for the loss of innocent
people and destruction of property,'' Lee said.
Lee also warned North Korea of strong retaliation against any further
provocation, saying, ''Actions are needed now more than a hundred words.''
''From now on, North Korea will pay a corresponding price for its
provocations,'' Lee said.
After making the speech, Lee visited the South Korea-United States Combined
Forces Command in central Seoul and received a briefing about the ongoing joint
naval drills in the Yellow Sea, Lee's senior press secretary Hong Sang Pyo
said.
''Korean and U.S. troops are drilling very well,'' Hong quoted the president as
saying.
Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of the Combined Forces Command, told Lee the
ongoing drills are improving the combined defense capability, Hong said.
Sharp added that all-out efforts, through information-sharing between the two
countries, are being made to maintain surveillance and reconnaissance on North
Korea.
In Monday's speech, Lee also said he will protect ''in an airtight way'' the
South's five islands near the tense disputed western sea border with the North.

He also said he will carry out drastic reforms to bolster national defense ''to
make the armed forces far stronger.''
In the face of a public furor over the military's slow response to the North's
attack on Tuesday, Lee replaced the defense minister on Friday.
North Korea pummeled Yeongpyeong Island with an artillery barrage, killing four
people, including two civilians, and setting many houses ablaze.
South Korean and U.S. naval forces started a four-day large-scale exercise on
Sunday some 100 kilometers south of the island. The nuclear-powered aircraft
carrier USS George Washington is leading a group of warships.
North Korea claims the exercise involving a U.S. carrier strike group has
brought the region to the brink of war.
==Kyodo