A South Korean warship fired warning shots at a North Korean ship early Monday after it was suspected of crossing the disputed maritime border between the two countries, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
A North Korean merchant ship was reported to have crossed the so-called Northern Limit Line near Pingnyeong Island at 3:42 am.
Warning shots
But he retreated north after the South Korean navy fired warning shots, the South Korean Army’s Joint Chief of Staff said, according to Yonhap.
On the other hand, a spokesman for the North Korean Army General Staff said that Pyongyang fired ten rounds from several missile launchers around 05:15 (Sunday GMT 2015) after the South Korean army fired warning shots around 03: 50.
“The enemies have warned us”
“We have once again forcefully warned the enemies who carried out naval provocations, as well as artillery fire and loudspeaker broadcasts across the border,” he said in a statement.
The maritime border is considered a hot spot and has been the scene of numerous clashes between the two Koreas over the years.
Artillery
Tension has increased in recent weeks, with North Korea launching missile and artillery strikes that have provoked South Korea and Japan and alarmed their Western allies.
Pyongyang recently significantly stepped up its military exercises, with Seoul and Washington saying North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is about to conduct what could be his country’s seventh nuclear test.
Monday’s exchange of warning fire comes on the same day that US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman visits Japan and holds trialogues with Japan and South Korea in a demonstration of unity after a series of missile launches from Korea. of the North.
