ID :
89338
Fri, 11/13/2009 - 08:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/89338
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea to award sailors for repelling N. Korean patrol boat
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to award its Navy servicemen who repelled a North Korean patrol boat after it crossed the western sea border and attacked them earlier this week, an official said Thursday.
The navies of the divided Koreas clashed Tuesday in the waters off their west
coast when a North Korean vessel crossed the Yellow Sea border and opened fire on
a South Korean one despite warnings.
The South Korean side suffered no casualties in the two-minute gunfight while the
North Korean boat fled in flames and was tugged to port on the last stretch of
its journey home, officials here say.
"What types of medals will be given to which servicemembers is currently under
examination," Won Tae-jae, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense in
Seoul, said.
The ministry had planned to convene the highest meeting of general-grade
officers, including the deputy commander of the U.S.-South Korean Combined
Forces, next week, but postponed it until after U.S. President Barack Obama
completes his Seoul visit.
Obama will be here from Nov. 18-19 as part of his Asian trip.
Measures to prevent another clash will run high on the agenda when Defense
Minister Kim Tae-young oversees the meeting that will also draw the Army, Navy
and Air Force chiefs of staff, Won said.
"The medals will be conferred during the meeting," Won said.
North Korea on Thursday renewed its allegation that the South Korean Navy
intruded into its territorial waters and provoked a skirmish before being
defeated and fleeing back south.
"The south Korean forces will be forced to pay dearly for the grave armed
provocation perpetrated by them," Rodong Sinmun, the North's major newspaper
published by the Workers' Party, said in a commentary. The article was carried by
the North's Korean Central News Agency.
In the two previous clashes in 1999 and 2002, South Korea lost six sailors while
the North is estimated to have lost dozens. The two Koreas are technically at war
after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
North Korea refuses to recognize the NLL as it was unilaterally drawn at the end
of the war by the American commander of U.N. forces that fought on the South
Korean side.
The South Korean military said it has newly deployed two 1,800-ton patrol boats
and a 4,500-ton destroyer to beef up its naval guard near the NLL since the
Tuesday clash.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to award its Navy servicemen who repelled a North Korean patrol boat after it crossed the western sea border and attacked them earlier this week, an official said Thursday.
The navies of the divided Koreas clashed Tuesday in the waters off their west
coast when a North Korean vessel crossed the Yellow Sea border and opened fire on
a South Korean one despite warnings.
The South Korean side suffered no casualties in the two-minute gunfight while the
North Korean boat fled in flames and was tugged to port on the last stretch of
its journey home, officials here say.
"What types of medals will be given to which servicemembers is currently under
examination," Won Tae-jae, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense in
Seoul, said.
The ministry had planned to convene the highest meeting of general-grade
officers, including the deputy commander of the U.S.-South Korean Combined
Forces, next week, but postponed it until after U.S. President Barack Obama
completes his Seoul visit.
Obama will be here from Nov. 18-19 as part of his Asian trip.
Measures to prevent another clash will run high on the agenda when Defense
Minister Kim Tae-young oversees the meeting that will also draw the Army, Navy
and Air Force chiefs of staff, Won said.
"The medals will be conferred during the meeting," Won said.
North Korea on Thursday renewed its allegation that the South Korean Navy
intruded into its territorial waters and provoked a skirmish before being
defeated and fleeing back south.
"The south Korean forces will be forced to pay dearly for the grave armed
provocation perpetrated by them," Rodong Sinmun, the North's major newspaper
published by the Workers' Party, said in a commentary. The article was carried by
the North's Korean Central News Agency.
In the two previous clashes in 1999 and 2002, South Korea lost six sailors while
the North is estimated to have lost dozens. The two Koreas are technically at war
after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
North Korea refuses to recognize the NLL as it was unilaterally drawn at the end
of the war by the American commander of U.N. forces that fought on the South
Korean side.
The South Korean military said it has newly deployed two 1,800-ton patrol boats
and a 4,500-ton destroyer to beef up its naval guard near the NLL since the
Tuesday clash.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
