Naval Clash between North and South Korea 

2009-11-10 09:57

 

The two Koreas had a brief naval clash in Yellow Sea waters on Tuesday the 10th. A South Korean ship fired shots at a North Korean patrol vessel went it entered South Korean waters. No casualties have been reported.

The North Korean patrol vessel went about a mile into waters claimed by the South.

[General Lee Ki-sik, South Korean’s Joint Chiefs of Staff]:
"We fired warning shots according to protocol and the North Korean patrol ship fired directly at our vessel. Then we fired back and the North Korean ship went back. None of our troops were injured."

North Korea’s ship was partially destroyed in the fight.

[General Lee Ki-sik, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff]:
"We sent warning messages to them twice before they crossed the Northern Limit Line and three times after they crossed the Line."

North Korea does not recognize the Northern Limit Line border, which was set by U.S.-led U.N. forces at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

The two Koreas have fought two deadly naval battles in the past decade in the Yellow Sea waters near the contested sea border.

North Korea has recently been open to direct talks with the U.S. over nuclear disarmament negotiations.

The U.S. is expected to announce whether it will start direct talks with North Korea any day now.