Saturday, September 22, 2012

South Korea Fires Shots at North Side

On Friday, South Korean patrol boats fired warning shots at North Korean fishing vessels.  The fishing vessels were said to have sailed into South Korean-controlled waters, although North Korean warships were not involved.  The shots did not hit any of the North Korean vessels and they retreated after the incident.  This occurred in the Yellow Sea, which has often been a location of controversy due to its claim by both countries.  In this seafood-enriched sea, "boats routinely jostle for position during crab-catching season."  Furthermore, naval clashes have frequently occurred in this area since North Korea has "never recognized a sea boundary set by the United Nations after the 1950-53 Korean War.  Earlier in the month, there have been news of five separate incidents where fishing boats have crossed the sea border.  Unfortunately, this escalated fears that North Korea was trying to raise a reaction from the South.  However, September is the typical time for fishing in the Yellow Sea, so the meaning of the boundary crossings is still unclear.

More info at:
http://search.proquest.com/nationalnewsexpanded/docview/1048193648/13954EB2166B309054/19?accountid=44854

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57517516/s-korea-navy-fires-warning-shots-at-n-korea-fishing-boats-for-alleged-breach-of-maritime-border/

Amanda Ngo

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