Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) urged all governments concerned to exercise maximum self-restraint and refrain from unusual military movements that will increase tensions and lead to greater mutual distrust on the Korean Peninsula, a statement released by the ASEAN Secretariat said on Friday.

"I would like to further encourage all governments concerned to explore new and bolder ideas that will create just and comprehensive solutions to end the hostility and denuclearise the Korean Peninsula, as well as to facilitate reconciliation between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)," the Secretary General said.

Since ROK and DPRK have acceded to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and both are participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Surin also appealed to both countries to refrain from the use of force or the threat to use force, and to uphold the TAC's principle of peaceful resolution of conflict and the ARF's spirit of goodwill in cooperation for common benefit.

"Permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula is long overdue, and the absence of permanent peace is benefiting no one. Further escalation of the confrontation on the Korean Peninsula will derail our hard-earned economic recovery in East Asia at a time when our region should be benefiting from growth and prosperity," added Surin in the statement.

During the exchange of fires on Tuesday, the DPRK shelled the ROK's Yeongpyeong Island in what Seoul called an "unprovoked attack," killing two marines and two civilians. It also fired artillery shells into waters near the disputed western sea border.

Pyongyang claims Seoul's shells fell in its side of the maritime border before it opened fire.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK said in a statement Wednesday that DPRK military measures taken in the exchange of artillery fire with the ROK were in self-defense.