DATE=6/12/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-250555 TITLE=NORTH KOREA / STANDOFF/ L-O BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN DATELINE=SEOUL CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: NORTH KOREA HAS THREATENED TO ATTACK SOUTH KOREAN WARSHIPS IN DISPUTED WATERS, AS AN ARMED STANDOFF PASSES ITS FIFTH DAY. JOHN LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL FOUR NORTH KOREAN PATROL BOATS RE-ENTERED SOUTH KOREAN WATERS SATURDAY, AFTER WITHDRAWING THE PREVIOUS EVENING. TEXT -- SOUTH KOREA MASSED DESTROYERS, FRIGATES AND PATROL BOATS AND PUT ITS MILITARY ON HEIGHTENED ALERT AFTER THE NORTH KOREAN SHIPS WERE SPOTTED INSIDE A BUFFER ZONE. THROUGH ITS OFFICIAL KOREAN CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY, NORTH KOREA WARNED IT WILL LAUNCH WHAT IT DESCRIBES AS STRONG SELF-DEFENSE STRIKES, IF THE SOUTH KOREAN SHIPS DO NOT WITHDRAW. SINCE TUESDAY, NORTH KOREAN NAVY SHIPS HAVE BEEN CROSSING THE DISPUTED BORDER INTO THE SOUTH KOREAN-CONTROLLED BUFFER ZONE, WHICH VARIES IN WIDTH FROM ONE TO 12 KILOMETERS. THEY ARE ESCORTING FISHING VESSELS OPERATING WITHIN THE ZONE, WHICH IS A RICH CRAB-FISHING AREA. FRIDAY, SOUTH KOREA TOOK ITS STRONGEST COUNTER-MEASURES YET -- SENDING IN SHIPS TO RAM FOUR NORTH KOREAN VESSELS BACK OVER THE BORDER. BOTH SIDES TRAINED THEIR GUNS AT EACH OTHER DURING THE CONFRONTATION, BUT NO SHOTS WERE FIRED. THE RETURN OF THE COMMUNIST SHIPS SATURDAY MORNING PROMPTED SOUTH KOREA TO DEPLOY MORE SHIPS FURTHER NORTH, ACCORDING TO SEOUL'S SEMI-OFFICIAL YONHAP NEWS AGENCY. A DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO RESOLVE THE SHOWDOWN PEACEFULLY. HE WOULD NOT CONFIRM THE REINFORCEMENTS. THE CONFRONTATION COMES LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA MEET IN BEIJING FOR THEIR FIRST OFFICIAL TALKS IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR. NORTH KOREA HAS NEVER RECOGNIZED THE SEA BORDER, WHICH WAS IMPOSED IN 1953 BY THE UNITED NATIONS COMMAND. IT REGULARLY SENDS SHIPS INTO THE AREA, BUT -- IN THE PAST -- HAS WITHDRAWN THEM AFTER PROTESTS BY SOUTH KOREA. (SIGNED) NEB / WD / WD 12-Jun-99 3:39 AM EDT (0739 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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