North Korea and South Korea exchanged warning shots and accusations of violating the maritime border on Monday, in a new episode in a context of growing tension in recent weeks.
A North Korean merchant ship initially crossed the sea border near Baengnyeong Island this morning and withdrew after the South Korean navy fired warning shots, Seoul said.
“The North’s continued provocations and reckless claims undermine the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the international community,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, urging Pyongyang to end these actions.
For its part, the Pyongyang military said that a South Korean military ship crossed the border minutes later and that the North Korean army (KPA) fired 10 warning shots from the west coast.
“KPA West Coast Defense Units took an initial countermeasure to powerfully repel the enemy warship,” a spokesman said in a statement.
“Once again we issue a stern warning to enemies, following maritime provocations, in addition to artillery fire and cross-border message broadcasting through loudspeakers,” he added.
The maritime “buffer zone” was established in a 2018 agreement designed to avoid tensions between the two countries.
But these have intensified in recent weeks, with Pyongyang launching several missiles and artillery fire into the waters off the east and west coasts, targeting this border, in what South Korea and Japan see as a provocation.
North Korea has also recently increased tests of weapons described as simulated “nuclear tactical” strikes against targets in South Korea.
Seoul and Washington said they hope Pyongyang, which it believes is threatened by military maneuvers by the United States, South Korea and Japan in the region, will resume nuclear testing soon.
Tensions have been rising on the Korean peninsula since the beginning of the year.
Last month, North Korea also declared its nuclear status “irreversible,” closing the door on disarmament talks for good, and warned it would move toward preemptive strikes if threatened.
A change of warning shots occurs the same day that the US Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, travels to Japan for tripartite talks with the allies of Washington, Tokyo and Seoul, a demonstration of unity against the actions of Korea From North.
Source: TSF
