DATE=6/9/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250402 TITLE=NORTH / SOUTH KOREA / STANDOFF (L-ONLY) BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN DATELINE=SEOUL CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NAVY SHIPS FROM NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA ARE INVOLVED IN A TENSE STANDOFF NEAR THEIR HEAVILY-ARMED BORDER. SOUTH KOREAN PATROL BOATS WERE DISPATCHED ON WEDNESDAY AFTER THE NORTH SENT SIX SHIPS INTO A BUFFER ZONE AT THE WESTERN SEA BORDER. OPPOSING VESSELS HAVE NOT EXCHANGED GUNFIRE. JOHN LARKIN HAS MORE FROM SEOUL. TEXT: NORTH AND SOUTH KOREAN PATROL BOATS CAME SO CLOSE AT ONE POINT DURING THE STANDOFF THAT TWO OPPOSING VESSELS ACTUALLY COLLIDED. ONLY SLIGHT DAMAGE RESULTED, AND NO INJURIES. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN SOUTHERN SHIPS TRIED TO FORCE THE NORTH KOREAN VESSELS OUT OF SOUTH KOREAN WATERS FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO DAYS. THE STANDOFF BEGAN WHEN NORTH KOREA'S SHIPS RE-ENTERED SOUTH KOREAN WATERS EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING, ABOUT SIX HOURS AFTER WITHDRAWING FROM THE AREA FOLLOWING THEIR FIRST INCURSION. THE NORTH KOREAN SHIPS APPEARED TO BE ESCORTING MORE THAN A DOZEN FISHING VESSELS OPERATING IN THE ZONE, WHICH IS A RICH CRAB-FISHING GROUND CONTROLLED BY SOUTH KOREA. A DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL SAID IT IS CURRENTLY PEAK SEASON FOR CRAB FISHING IN THE YELLOW SEA. WHILE NORTH KOREAN SHIPS HAVE ROUTINELY CREPT SOUTH OF THE ONE-TO-FIVE MILE SEA BUFFER ZONE IN THE PAST, THE FACT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO LEAVE THE AREA HAS ALARMED DEFENSE OFFICIALS. THE INFILTRATION COMES TWO DAYS AFTER NORTH KOREA ACCUSED THE SOUTH OF SENDING THREE WARSHIPS INTO ITS OWN WATERS, AND WARNED OF RETALIATION. ON WEDNESDAY, NORTH KOREAN STATE MEDIA BLAMED THE CONFRONTATION ON SOUTH KOREA, SAYING SOUTHERN NAVY SHIPS HAD INTRUDED INTO NORTH KOREAN WATERS. IT'S THE FIRST ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE TWO NAVIES IN SEVERAL MONTHS. (SIGNED) NEB/JL/GC/FC/PLM 09-Jun-99 3:24 AM EDT (0724 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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