DATE=6/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250505
TITLE=KOREAN / SHIPS (L)
BYLINE=JOHN LARKIN
DATELINE=SEOUL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NORTH KOREAN WARSHIPS WERE NUDGED BY SOUTH KOREAN NAVY
VESSELS BACK INTO THEIR OWN TERRITORIAL WATERS ON FRIDAY, AS A
TENSE STANDOFF IN THE YELLOW SEA ENTERED ITS FOURTH DAY. JOHN
LARKIN REPORTS FROM SEOUL ON THE SEA-BORDER CLASH.
TEXT : FOUR HIGH-SPEED PATROL BOATS FROM SOUTH KOREA
DELIBERATELY BUMPED INTO THREE NORTH KOREAN NAVY SHIPS, IN AN
ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE THEM INTO RETURNING HOME.
NO SHOTS WERE FIRED, ALTHOUGH DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIALS SAID
BOTH SIDES MANNED THEIR GUNS DURING THE INCIDENT. THEY SAID
THREE NORTH KOREAN SHIPS WERE DAMAGED AND RETURNED HOME, ALONG
WITH THREE UNDAMAGED VESSELS. ONE SOUTH KOREAN SHIP WAS ALSO
DAMAGED.
SINCE TUESDAY, NORTH KOREAN VESSELS HAVE SAILED ACROSS THE
WESTERN SEA BORDER INTO A NARROW BUFFER ZONE CONTROLLED BY SOUTH
KOREA. THEY HAVE RETURNED HOME EACH NIGHT.
THE COMMUNIST NATION'S SHIPS HAVE BEEN ESCORTING ABOUT A DOZEN
FISHING VESSELS INTO THE ZONE, WHICH IS A RICH CRAB-FISHING
AREA.
ON FRIDAY, SOUTH KOREA'S DEFENSE MINISTER CHO SEONG-TAE DECIDED
TO ADOPT A TOUGH STRATEGY, AFTER REPEATED WARNINGS FAILED TO
DETER THE NORTH KOREANS.
AFTER CONVENING EMERGENCY MEETINGS WITH TOP AIDES AND GENERAL
JOHN TILELLI -- THE COMMANDER OF U-S FORCES IN SOUTH KOREA -- HE
SENT IN WARSHIPS TO BULLY THEIR NORTH KOREAN CRAFT BACK OVER THE
LINE.
SOUTH KOREA ALSO BEGAN MASSING DESTROYERS AND OTHER COMBAT
VESSELS TO FURTHER INTIMIDATE THE NORTH KOREANS.
WHILE NORTH KOREAN SHIPS ROUTINELY INFILTRATE THE AREA, IT IS
UNUSUAL FOR THEM TO STAY, IN DEFIANCE OF THREATS OF RETALIATION
FROM SEOUL.
THE CONFRONTATION IS THE FIRST BETWEEN THE OPPOSING NAVIES FOR
SOME TIME. THE NORTH HAS CONTESTED THE SEA BORDER SINCE THE
1970'S. (SIGNED)
NEB/JL/FC
11-Jun-99 3:47 AM EDT (0747 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
