Public Affairs Office
News Release
| United Nations Command | United States Forces Korea |
| Combined Forces Command | Eighth United States Army |
| Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, Korea | APO AP 96205-0010 |
| Phone: Seoul 7913-4665/4668 | DSN: 723-4665/4668 |
Release No. 990613
U.S. FORCES KOREA UPDATE MESSAGE NO. 1
SEOUL (USFK) June 16, 1999 – The purpose of this message is to provide a current update of the situation concerning the recent naval incidents off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula and the impact on USFK personnel.
For more than a week North Korean fishing boats, escorted by naval patrol boats, have intruded south of the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea (Yellow Sea). This line has served for decades as a means of separating North and South Korean naval forces.
At about 9:30 a.m., June 15, North Korea fired upon the South’s vessels. Republic of Korea navy vessels returned fire and sunk one North Korean boat and damaged others.
At 10 a.m., June 15, the United Nations Command met with North Korean People's Army representatives at Panmunjom and recommended that both sides withdraw their naval forces to their respective sides of the NLL
to reduce tensions in this area. The fact that the North met with the UN Command is viewed as a positive step by the Command.While U.S. forces in Korea have not been placed on a higher state of alert, the command is monitoring the situation closely and will take appropriate steps as required. Additionally, the threat condition status or Threatcon for the command has not changed. Updates to Threatcon status will be provided if the situation requires changes.
The command appreciates the sacrifices of its’ men and women and is committed to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
USFK will provide updates to this information as it changes.
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