S. Korea vows strong counteraction against N. Korean maritime intrusions By Sam Kim

SEOUL, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea pledged on Friday "firm counteraction" against any attempt by North Korea to violate their sea border, hours after Pyongyang raised tensions by declaring it is scrapping all political and military accords with Seoul.

"We will uphold the maritime border just as we maintain the military demarcation
line on land," Won Tae-jae, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense,
told reporters. He called on North Korea to abide by a 1992 agreement that
recognizes the Yellow Sea border as a de-facto demarcation line.
"The agreement reached between the Koreas cannot be scrapped just because one
side decides to scrap it," Won said. "We have stuck to it, and our stance remains
the same.
North Korea said Friday that it has nullified a de facto Yellow Sea border where
bloody naval skirmishes occurred in 1999 and 2002, accusing South Korean
President Lee Myung-bak of pushing inter-Korean relations to the "brink of war."
Won said no unusual activities have emerged since North Korea's announcement. But
he added the South Korean military has stepped up its monitoring activities along
the border.
The two Koreas technically remain at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a
truce rather than a peace treaty.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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