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Korean warships exchange fire in border skirmish
Ed Harris10 Nov 2009
Tensions flared between the two Koreas today as their warships exchanged naval fire along a disputed western sea border.
The latest bout of sabre-rattling between the divided countries suddenly escalated as a North Korean ship came under fire. It suffered heavy damage before retreating, South Korean military officials claimed.
There were no South Korean casualties, the country's joint chiefs of staff said. It was not clear whether there were any casualties from the North.
Each side blamed the other for violating the sea border, with South Korean Commodore Lee Ki-sik saying in Seoul: "It's a regrettable incident. We are sternly protesting to North Korea."
The North's military said that South Korea's ships had crossed into North Korean territory. It demanded an apology, said a statement carried on the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
The two navies have twice had exchanges along their western sea border in the past decade. The latest incident comes days before Barack Obama visits Asia, with North Korea seeking direct talks on its nuclear programme.
In the North's version of events, a patrol boat was on a mission to confirm "an unidentified object" on its own side of the border.
While it was sailing back, South Korean ships chased it and opened fire in a "grave armed provocation".
The North Korean vessel "lost no time to deal a prompt retaliatory blow at the provokers", KCNA said. It added: "The group of warships of the South Korean forces hastily took to flight to the waters of their side."
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak convened an emergency security meeting and ordered his defence minister to strengthen military readiness.
Last month, North Korea's navy accused the South of sending warships across their maritime border to stir tensions, and warned that further incursions could spark retaliation.
The communist state's navy said that on one day alone, ships crossed the boundary 10 times.
Reader views (1)
Would you belive a word from the North korean regime ?
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 10/11/2009 12:57
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