Mass Violation of NLL by NK Fishing Boats

On May 30, the Headquarters of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) announced that a group of North Korean fishing boats briefly violated the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de-facto inter-Korean maritime border, in the Yellow Sea. They turned back when a group of Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy patrol boats were dispatched.

This is the eighth time this year for NK fishing boats to violate the NLL. Including the intrusion of a NK Navy boat on May 3. this will be the ninth time this year.

According to JCS, around 10:30 a.m., 6 miles north off the coast of Yeon-pyeong Island, in the Yellow Sea, among a group of fifteen NK fishing boats, seven boats crossed the NLL about 0.1-0.9miles south before turning back at around 11:30 a.m.

During the NK intrusion, a couple of nearby patrolling ROK Navy patrol boats have approached them, sending warning broadcasts. A Navy ship was dispatched 7 miles southwest off Yeon-pyeong Island for support in case of an emergency. However according to JCS there were no unusual actions by the NK Navy boats.

NK fishing boats have violated the NLL on the 26th to 28th of May and again today, the 30th. On the May 27, there were three reported incidents. Since then, the JCS and Navy have reinforced their patrols in case of contingencies.

“We`re closely examining all possibilities. There are various possibilities of unintended crossings, intended violations and others. As of now we plan to protest strongly to North Korea for this violation of the NLL,” says a military official.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com