South Korean warning shots after alleged North Korean ship raid

South Korean military fired warning shots at a ship north korean Monday morning, after considering that the ship had crossed the disputed maritime border between the two countries, the Yonhap news agency reported.

the commercial ship north korean It would have crossed the so-called North Limit Line, near the island of Baengnyeong, at 03:42 (20:42 GMT on Sunday) but withdrew north after the South Navy fired, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff reported, quoted by Yonhap.

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The agency added that the North Korean military accused a South Korean military vessel of violating the de facto border by 2.5 to 5 km a few minutes later, for which it reportedly fired 10 warning shots in response.

“We once again strongly warned the enemies who carried out maritime provocations, in addition to artillery fire and cross-border loudspeaker broadcasts,” a spokesman for the North Korean Army General Staff said, according to Yonhap.

The maritime border is considered a point of conflict and has been the scene of several clashes between the two Koreas over the years.

Tensions have escalated in recent weeks with several missile launches and artillery shelling by North Korea, seen as a provocation by Seoul and Tokyo.

Pyongyang has recently stepped up its military drills, while Seoul and Washington say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is close to carrying out his country’s seventh nuclear test.

Monday’s exchange of warnings came on the same day that US Assistant Secretary of State Wendy Sherman visits Japan and engages in three-way talks with Tokyo and Seoul in a show of unity with Pyongyang.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.