S.Korea fires warning shots against DPRK patrol boat

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 30, 2003

S.Korea fires warning shots against DPRK patrol boat

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

A South Korean navy ship fired warning shots Thursday to repel a patrol boat of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that briefly crossed a controversial inter-Korean sea border, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a press release.

The navy ship fired four rounds of 76 mm shells after discovering that the DPRK boat had traveled 0.5 miles past the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea at 11:37 a.m. (0237 GMT), according to the JCS press release.

The DPRK vessel retreated to the northern side of the maritime border 10 minutes later without making any counteraction, the release said.

It is the second time the South Korean navy has used warning shots to force back DPRK ships this year. In early June, two SouthKorean navy ships discharged 34 shots to force back eight DPRK fishing boats.

According to South Korean official data, a total of 19 DPRK military and fishing boats have violated the NLL this year, including Thursday's incident.

The NLL is a controversial inter-Korean sea border which is not accepted by the DPRK. And the navies of the two countries had skirmishes around the NLL in 1999 and 2002.

Questions?Comments? Click here

DPRK's Patrol Boat Retreats After Drawing Warning Shots

DPRK Patrol Boat Crosses NLL to S. Korean Side

S.Korea Fires Warning Shots against DPRK Patrol Boat

Global survey: Chinese women sexiest ( 11 Messages)

Business Week: Is China's boom in danger? ( 3 Messages)

Chinese gov't opposes Taiwan's separatism, referendum ( 7 Messages)

China pays last tribute to Madame Soong Mei-ling ( 3 Messages)

China expects to see trade deficit in near future: official ( 2 Messages)