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Further Reading

DATE=6/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250601
TITLE=N-S KOREA / SHIPS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  FOUR NORTH KOREAN WARSHIPS RETURNED HOME LATE MONDAY 
MORNING AFTER  INFILTRATING SOUTH KOREAN WATERS EARLIER IN THE 
DAY. JOHN LARKIN REPORTS ON  THE SEVENTH DAY OF A TENSE MILITARY 
STANDOFF IN THE YELLOW SEA.
TEXT:   A SOUTH KOREAN DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS FOUR OF 
THE NORTH'S SHIPS WHICH CREPT OVER THE  SOUTH'S WESTERN SEA 
BORDER IN THE EARLY MORNING, SAILED HOME AT AROUND 11:00 AM, 
SEOUL TIME.
HE CONFIRMED THE VESSELS WERE SUPPORTED ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF 
THE BORDER BY AT LEAST TWO NORTH KOREAN TORPEDO SHIPS.
THEY WERE OPPOSED BY ABOUT A DOZEN SOUTH KOREAN NAVY PATROL 
BOATS, BACKED BY A FLOTILLA OF FRIGATES AND DESTROYERS IN WATERS 
CONTESTED BY THE TWO KOREAS.
SINCE LAST TUESDAY, NORTH KOREAN NAVY VESSELS HAVE CROSSED THE 
SEA BORDER,  KNOWN AS THE NORTHERN LIMIT LINE, WHICH WAS IMPOSED 
BY THE UNITED NATIONS COMMAND AFTER THE KOREAN WAR ENDED IN 1953.
PYONGYANG'S VESSELS HAVE TURNED BACK EACH  NIGHTFALL.
NORTH KOREA REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THE MARITIME FRONTIER, AND 
REGULARLY SENDS  SHIPS ACROSS IT INTO A BUFFER ZONE CONTROLLED BY
SOUTH KOREA. BUT IN THE  PAST, THEY HAVE RETURNED HOME QUICKLY, 
MAKING THE CURRENT STANDOFF UNUSUAL.
ON SUNDAY, NORTH KOREA RAISED HOPES OF AN END TO THE STALEMATE BY
ACCEPTING A U-N COMMAND OFFER FOR GENERAL OFFICER TALKS, ON 
TUESDAY, AT THE TRUCE VILLAGE  OF PANMUNJOM, TO DISCUSS THE 
IMPASSE.
THE SOUTH KOREA DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN  SAYS SEOUL IS 
DETERMINED TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION PEACEFULLY.   ON FRIDAY THE 
CONFRONTATION INTENSIFIED WHEN  SOUTHERN WARSHIPS RAMMED NORTH 
KOREAN SHIPS, TO DRIVE THEM BACK OVER THE  BORDER.
THE FACE-OFF HAS OVERSHADOWED UPCOMING TALKS IN BEIJING BETWEEN 
OFFICIALS OF  THE TWO KOREAS -- THE FIRST IN MORE THAN A YEAR.  
SOME ANALYSTS BELIEVE THE  INFILTRATIONS WERE ORCHESTRATED BY 
PYONGYANG'S MILITARY HARDLINERS, WHO ARE DETERMINED TO SABOTAGE 
THE DIALOGUE.  (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/FC/PLM
*
14-Jun-99 3:41 AM EDT (0741 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.