DPRK Vessel Violated South Korean Territorial Waters

The South Korean military fired warning shots at a DPRK merchant ship that violated the country’s territorial waters.

This is reported by ABC News.

The vessel crossed the Northern Limit Line near the South Korean border island of Baengnyeongdo at about 5 am.

After an audio warning and warning shots from the South Korean military, it retreated.

There were no reports of return fire or use of force by the DPRK.

Seoul emphasized that the actions were carried out in accordance with operational procedures, and the troops remain on high alert to reliably protect territorial waters.

Such warning shots are often used by the South Korean military against North Korean patrol or commercial vessels that violate the maritime border.

The poorly marked western maritime border has repeatedly been the scene of armed incidents, including North Korea’s shelling of a South Korean island in 2010 and the alleged torpedoing of a warship, which killed 50 soldiers.

In January 2024, DPRK leader Kim Jong-Un announced that he would not recognize the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea, established under the US-led UN Command after the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Pyongyang insists on its own border line, which cuts deep into waters controlled by South Korea.

In 2022, the two sides also exchanged warning shots after the South Korean military fired on a North Korean merchant ship that crossed the disputed border.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high as the DPRK ignores Seoul’s calls for a resumption of dialogue.

At the same time, Kim Jong-Un has accelerated the development of military programs and deepened cooperation with Moscow.