South Koria fired warning shots as well as broadcast warnings asking the North Korean patrol boat to turn back which had breached the Northern Limit Line
South Korea’s military has fired warning shots at a North Korean patrol boat that breached the Northern Limit Line (NLL) at around 11:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, April 15, 2023.
The de facto maritime border, which was never officially recognised by the North, has long been a flashpoint between both the Koreas, remains technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.
The reported North Korean incursion came as tension flared over Pyongyang’s stepped-up military activities in recent weeks, including the recent test of a new solid fuel Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which could facilitate missile launches with little warning.
Speaking on the occasion, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, “Our military maintains decisive battle posture while monitoring the enemy’s movements in preparation for potential provocations regarding NLL violations by North Korean patrol boats.”
A Statement from the Military of South Korea read, “Our Navy’s high-speed boat sent warning messages and conducted warning shots and immediately warded it off. Our military is prepared against various provocations and keeping a decisive combat posture while closely monitoring the enemy’s movements.”
During the warning operations, a South Korean patrol ship came into minor contact with a nearby Chinese fishing vessel due to bad visibility, resulting in no safety issues but slight injuries among the South Korean crew.
Pyongyang has threatened military action as South Korea and the United States (U.S.) carried out their annual springtime exercises since March, calling them a rehearsal for nuclear war. The Supreme Leader of North Korea – Kim Jong Un has ordered to strengthen war deterrence in a more practical and offensive manner to counter what the isolated country called moves of aggression by South Korea and the U.S. However, Seoul and Washington say their drills are defensive and aimed at deterring Pyongyang.
Last year, North Korea fired a ballistic missile across the maritime border, prompting South Korea to fire 3 missiles of its own in response, while also suspending flight routes and warning island residents in the area to shelter in bunkers.
Relations between South and North Korea are at one of their lowest points in years after Pyongyang declared itself an “irreversible” nuclear power last year, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks.
Besides, South Korea has said that North Korea has not been responding to their calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for more than a week, which raises concerns about potential kinetic provocations as communications on those channels are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rival’s sea borders.
