N. Korean vessel crosses into South

SEOUL, South Korea - A North Korean naval boat crossed the disputed Yellow Sea boundary Monday, a South Korean official said, as the U.S. and the South kicked off annual military exercises.

The initial crossing by a patrol boat estimated to weigh 420 tons occurred at 10:56 p.m. near the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min Seok said today at a briefing in Seoul. The North Korean boat turned around when the South Korean Navy sent a radio message warning of a “stern” countermeasure, Kim said.

“It appears to be an intentional crossing of the Northern Limit Line and related to training,” he said.

The U.S. and South Korea began annual drills Monday that the North denounced as preparations for an invasion and demanded the South call off. The two Koreas on Monday finished their six-day reunions of families separated by the 1950-1953 Korean War, which ended without a peace treaty.

The North Korean patrol boat trespassed the Northern Limit Line twice more before it finally returned to its side at 2:25 a.m. today, Kim said.

Front Section, Pages 8 on 02/25/2014

Upcoming Events