9th anniversary of 2nd inter-Korean naval battle observed

A ceremony marking the ninth anniversary of the second inter-Korean naval clash near Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea was held Wednesday at the Navy`s 2nd Fleet headquarters in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

More than 2,000 people attended the ceremony, including the families of South Korean servicemen killed or injured in the clash and major government officials.

Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik said in his opening speech, "The second inter-Korean naval clash was a victorious sea battle in which our sailors warded off the provocation of North Korean naval vessels to maintain the Northern Limit Line (the de-facto inter-Korean maritime border)," adding, "Under the commitment of taking care of those who sacrificed themselves for the nation to the end, the government will make all-out efforts to support and treat them with respect."

"Despite its defeat in the clash, the North continues to launch reckless provocations such as the attack on our naval vessel Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island," he said. "The government and our armed forces will bolster our defense preparedness to curtail the North`s will to launch provocations against us."

irun@donga.com