Another N. Korean Patrol Boat Crosses NLL on Tuesday

The Joint Chiefs of Staff announced on Wednesday that a North Korean patrol boat crossed the Northern Line Limit (NLL) into the West Sea five miles (9.3 km) to the east of Baekryeong Island at 8:22 p.m. on Tuesday, retreating in 40 minutes after hearing warning shots fired by South Korea’s armed sea force.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff-related official said, “Considering the five Chinese fishing boats which were illegally operating in nearby waters at that same time, it seems that the North Korean patrol boat momentarily crossed over the NLL in the course of trying to control the Chinese fishing boats.”

Ho-Won Choi bestiger@donga.com