South Korean warships fire warning shots to drive back North's boat

SEOUL (AFP) Aug 18, 2003
South Korean warships fired warning shots Monday to drive back a North Korean boat violating the southern territorial waters in the Yellow Sea, military authorities said.

The North's 10-ton boat crossed the maritime border Northern Limit Line around midday and sailed 0.5 miles into the South's waters, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

A fleet of South Korean patrol boats fired five 40-milimeter gun shots at the North Korean ship which returned to the North six minutes later, officials said. There were no casualties, they added.

It was the 15th maritime border violation by North Korea this year.

WAR.WIRE