South Korea Fires Warning Shots at North Korean Vessel Crossing Maritime Border

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South Korea Fires Warning Shots at North Korean Vessel Crossing Maritime Border

2 months ago

News sources:

CHANNELNEWSASIA

INDIATIMES

ALJAZEERA

South Korea Fires Warning Shots at North Korean Vessel Crossing Maritime Border

Credited from: ALJAZEERA

South Korea fired warning shots at a North Korean ship breaching maritime borders.
The North Korean vessel retreated after an hour in South Korean waters.
This incident marks the first breach of the NLL in three years.

On Friday, South Korea's military fired warning shots at a North Korean merchant vessel that crossed the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL) near Baengnyeong Island. The ship entered South Korean waters and advanced approximately 5 kilometers south of the de facto maritime border before retreating following audio warnings and the firing of shots, as stated by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

The incident unfolded around 5 am local time and lasted nearly an hour, during which South Korean forces monitored the vessel and maintained a heightened state of readiness. The JCS reaffirmed its commitment to safeguard the NLL, amidst ongoing tensions on the peninsula, as detailed by Al Jazeera and Anadolu Agency.

This breach is significant as it marks the first time in three years that a North Korean vessel has crossed the NLL. South Korea’s military has issued multiple warnings to such incursions with previous incidents resulting in more severe confrontations, reflecting a long-standing issue regarding the maritime boundary established after the Korean War, according to Channel News Asia, India Times, and Al Jazeera.