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
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