The Croatian ministry issued a statement on Tuesday saying that Croatia joins in the international community's calls on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to stop all activities that may result in the escalation of the conflict and to respect the Korean truce agreement.
Croatia will closely follow developments, considering peace and security on the Korean peninsula to be of great importance for the region and the world.
On Tuesday, the North Korean army launched an artillery attack on the island of Yeongpyeong, 12 kilometres off the North Korean coast, as a result of which two South Korean soldiers were killed and at least 13 were wounded. Residents of the island were told to evacuate. At least four civilians were injured.
North Korea fired about a hundred artillery shells and South Korea fired back, shelling artillery positions on the North Korean coast, the defence ministry in Seoul reported later in the day.
The exchange of fire lasted one hour.
South Korea also sent its fighter planes towards the island where about 1,000 soldiers were deployed. North Korea claimed that it was South Korea that first opened fire, which prompted Pyongyang to respond.