Seoul, Sept. 26 (Agencies) – South Korea fired warning shots on Friday at a North Korean commercial vessel that crossed the maritime border in disputed waters off the peninsula’s west coast, its military confirmed.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said the incident occurred early Friday morning, when the North Korean ship crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime boundary established after the 1950–53 Korean War.

South Korean naval forces issued verbal warnings and fired warning shots in line with standard operational procedures. The vessel retreated shortly afterward, the JCS added.

The waters around the NLL have long been a flashpoint for military tensions, with several deadly clashes reported in the past. North Korea, however, does not recognise the line as its maritime boundary.

The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula, as both nations continue to bolster their military readiness in the face of stalled inter-Korean dialogue.

Source: Reuters

– Agencies