S. Korea vows stern response to N. Korean provocation in western waters

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Wednesday it will respond "sternly" to
any North Korean provocation along their western sea border, where the communist
state no longer guarantees the safety of foreign vessels.

"Should North Korea provoke, we will counteract sternly," the Joint Chiefs of
Staff said in a statement.
North Korea said earlier Wednesday it will no longer guarantee the safe
navigation of U.S. and South Korean vessels in the waters off its southwestern
coast.
It also vowed "merciless retaliation" against any attempt to intercept and search
its vessels, declaring it is no longer bound by the truce that ended the 1950-53
Korean War.
The threat came a day after South Korea announced its full participation in a
U.S.-led anti-proliferation campaign in an apparent response to the North's
nuclear test that was conducted Monday.
North Korea has warned that such a move would constitute a declaration of war,
calling it a precursor to a naval blockade.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)