S. Korean workers in N. Korea advised to use caution after naval clash

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday advised its public and private
workers in the North to exercise special discretion, as the outbreak of an
inter-Korean naval clash on the countries' western sea border earlier in the day
raised deep concern about their safety.

Naval boats of the two Koreas exchanged fire off the west coast shortly before
noon, after a North Korean patrol ship crossed the maritime border, triggering
warning shots from the South Korean military.
In an immediate reaction, the North's military demanded an apology from South
Korea over the clash, accusing the South of committing a "grave armed
provocation" against a northern patrol boat on routine duty.
The Unification Ministry in Seoul said it has sent out special safety guidelines
for its citizens working at an inter-Korean industrial complex in the North's
border town of Kaesong and a resort at Mount Kumgang run by South Korea's Hyundai
Asan Corp.
"We sent out the guidelines, as done before in April and May, when the North
fired off rockets and detonated a nuclear bomb. They asked our people to exercise
special caution under the current circumstances," ministry spokeswoman Lee
Jong-joo said.
The guidelines also urged South Korean personnel working in the North to refrain
from unnecessary contact with North Koreans, to take special precaution while in
any contact or communication, and to minimize travel while staying in the North.
The spokeswoman said the ministry hasn't received any reports pertaining to
security threats to South Korean personnel in the North, and that the industrial
park was operating normally.
Bloody skirmishes occurred on the Yellow Sea border in 1999 and 2002, claiming
scores of lives on both sides. North Korea has intruded past the Northern Limit
Line 22 times this year.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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