MOSCOW -- Russia said Tuesday it was important to prevent any escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, following news reports on exchange of fires between Pyongyang and Seoul.

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"Importantly, this should not escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula," an unnamed foreign ministry official was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

So far all related news reports were originated from the Republic of Korea (ROK), said the official, and one should wait until the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) makes official comments on the issue.

Earlier in the day, ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the DPRK fired scores of artillery onto a ROK island and also into waters off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula near a tense maritime border. Media reports said one ROK soldier had been killed by the artillery fire, and the ROK fired back in response.

The exchange of fire came when the ROK was engaged in massive annual military exercises involving some 70,000 troops, launched Monday and scheduled to last through November 30.