N. Korea threatens to strike S. Korean navy over NLL ‘incursions’
'Emergency alert' from North's state media claims multiple intrusions by Southern vessels; S. Korea issues denial
North Korea has warned the South Korean navy that it will open fire on its ships if they cross the dividing maritime border, in an emergency alert published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday.
The warning, issued by the Southwestern Front of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) claimed that South Korean speedboats had crossed onto North Korean territory across the Northern Limit Line (NLL) this week and said further incursions will be met with immediate gunfire.
“From this moment, it (KPA) will make a sighting strike without any prior warning at any warship of the south Korean puppet navy intruding into the extension of demarcation line in the hotspot of the West Sea of Korea,” the statement reads.
“This warning is based on the resolute decision to mercilessly punish with arms the provocateurs hell-bent on confrontation with compatriots.”
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) issued a statement on Friday in response to the “emergency alert” saying it is “deeply concerned that the DPRK showed such hostilities to ‘aim (at) and destroy’ ROK ships if they cross the Western NLL.”
“If the North provokes, the ROK will react decisively,” the statement read.
According to the KCNA article, between May 1 and May 7, a total of 17 South Korean speedboats had crossed up to 2-3 times a day. The MND has denied these claims.
“All of the ROK speed boats were operating normally. The NLL is the only sea border that the ROK government recognizes. We have not, I repeat, have not crossed the NLL not even once,” an MND official told NK News on Friday.
“We are deeply concerned by North’s distortion of the story, by announcing as if we crossed the border. Such a thing did not happen.”
South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency also quoted a message sent to the North Korean command by MND spokesman Kim Min-seok.
“It is not our side but your side that brings up tension along the NLL. Your threatening words and deeds by distorting facts are stoking unnecessary military tension between the two Koreas,” Kim was quoted as saying.
The NLL has been the site of multiple inter-Korean clashes and incidents, most notably the sinking of South Korea’s Cheonan naval vessel in 2010, which claimed the lives of 46 sailors.
Following an investigation conducted by an international team, North Korea was blamed for the incident.
Also in 2010, North Korea fired artillery shells across the NLL, targeting the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, killing two civilians and two soldiers in the process.
The last major exchange of fire across the NLL occurred in 2009, in which vessels from the North and South fired upon one another. The skirmish, called the Battle of Daechong-do, resulted in significant damage to the North Korean vessel involved and the reported death of a North Korean officer.
There were no casualties were sustained on the South Korean side.
Featured Image: Wikimedia Commons
No comments:
Post a Comment