Seoul Denies Warships' Violation of DPRK WatersSouth Korea Wednesday denied an allegation by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that South Korean warships had violated DPRK waters in the Yellow Sea.Three South Korean Navy vessels moved swiftly to confront a DPRK patrol boat which was approaching the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the waters south of Changsan Point from the DPRK's Wollae Island around 8:55 a.m. Tuesday, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said Wednesday. However, neither side crossed the NLL and the confrontation lasted for a couple of hours with navy vessels from each side converging on the spot, said a spokesman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Similar incidents took place on November 5, 6 and 13 respectively as 13 South Korean fishing boats were operating in waters 2.5 miles (4.5 kilometers) south of the NLL separating South and North in the Yellow Sea, he said. "We are trying to analyze the North's intentions in making allegations that we have intruded on their waters, especially in consideration of the new mood of reconciliation between the two countries," said the spokesman. The spokesman said it appears that the DPRK made the allegation that South Korean vessels violated the so-called navigation regulation it declared unilaterally on March 23 this year to lay claim over the five disputed islands in the Yellow Sea. The DPRK Central News Agency reported Tuesday night that four South Korean patrol boats, escorting a number of fishing vessels, penetrated deep into DPRK waters in the Yellow Sea earlier Tuesday. The agency said the South Korean boats were challenged by DPRK warships and retreated. "We cannot but construe this as a deliberate attempt by South Korea's military to reverse the amicable situation on the peninsula," said the official agency. |
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