North and South Korean Vessels Confront Each Other at Northern Limit Line in West Sea

Naval vessels of North and South Korea were involved in an hour-long confrontation, with each sending warnings to and fro in the sea near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea on the morning of December 31, 2004.

According to the military intelligence authorities, a North Korean patrol boat two miles (about 3.7 km) north of the NLL near Yunpyeong Province on the West Sea threatened a South Korean navy patrol vessel that was on a patrol in the southern sea of the line. The ship sent five warnings on the radio, saying, “[the vessel] has crossed the military demarcation line. Move or warning shots will be fired.”

In response, the South Korean navy vessel sent two warnings back, saying, “We are currently conducting a normal exercise in the designated sea area. We will take strong countermeasures if fired upon.”

The vessels were engaged in the confrontation for an hour 20 kilometers apart from each other before the North Korean patrol boat returned north.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com