Navies of 2 Koreas clash off west coast

The South and North Korean navies yesterday exchanged gunfire at the disputed western maritime border, raising tension days before U.S. President Barack Obama`s visit to Asia.

No South Korean casualties were reported from the first naval clash in seven years, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The North`s patrol ship fled back to its territory after the two-minute battle, encased in billowing smoke. The military said it was difficult to confirm reports that one North Korean was killed.

Seoul maintained that the North Korean ship crossed the Northern Limit Line and failed to abide by South Korean-North Korean warning signals.

"This is a regrettable incident in which the North targeted the South," said R. Adm. Lee Ki-shik.

Chang Gwang-il, the Defense Ministry`s head the defense policy department, told lawmakers in a briefing that the Navy issued five warnings. They were "a sufficient indication" that the North was violating the de-facto maritime border, Chang said.

Hours after the clash, North Korea demanded an apology, accusing South Korea`s Navy of violating its territory and opening fire.



Yesterday`s clash comes as the two Koreas appeared to be reconciling amid growing anticipation for bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea to discuss ways to end Pyongyang`s nuclear weapons programs.

The North is known to engage in controversial activities shortly ahead of negotiations; Pyongyang recently test-fired a number of short-range missiles.

At 11:27 a.m, a North Korean patrol boat violated the NLL, venturing south of the sea border. The South Korean Navy first issued verbal warnings to the North Korean ship at 11:22 a.m., after noticing that the patrol boat was traveling too close to the NLL.

The South Korean Navy issued more warnings before firing warning shots about 10 minutes later, to which the North immediately responded. The battle itself consequently erupted at around 11:37 a.m., near Baegryeong Island, the JCS said.

The South took about 15 shots from the North, which fired 50 rounds.

The government remained uncertain about Pyongyang`s motive for its violation.

Prime Minister Chung Un-chan said it was an "accidental incident," but the Defense Ministry argued it had yet to analyze the situation.



"Two scenarios seem possible," said Kim Tae-woo, vice president of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. "One is that the North timed this, as it has with previous incidences, so that it has more leverage in upcoming talks with the United States. Another is that the patrol ship was not in sync with the North`s central military command, meaning it really could have been an accident."

In either case, Kim said the incident was unlikely to change the course of South Korea`s North Korean policies in any way.

President Lee Myung-bak yesterday called a meeting of security ministers including Defense Minister Kim Tae-young, urging the military to keep close tabs on the situation to prevent possible escalation.

Kim told lawmakers that Seoul can`t rule out the possibility of a North Korean retaliation. "President Lee also is concerned about," he said during a meeting of the National Assembly Defense Committee.

The naval clash was the first in seven years. Both skirmishes in 1999 and 2002 resulted in bloodshed on both sides.

The first battle saw nine South Korean sailors injured, while in the second, six were killed and 18 others injured.

Recently revealed confidential reports showed that North Korea suffered incomparably heavy damage in the battles.

Officials and military watchers said the Navy was able to minimize damage in the latest battle following the revision of combat rules in 2004.

The new rules reduced the steps leading to the authorization of engagement. Commanders also were allowed more discretion under the revised rules.

(jemmie@heraldm.com)



By Kim Ji-hyun