Seoul rebuffs Pyongyang's claim of West Sea provocation

SEOUL, Dec. 17 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean military Thursday dismissed North Korea's claim that it engaged in provocative military exercises in the West Sea.

Pyongyang claimed in a report of its official Korean Central News Agency that the
South Korean army committed an "unpardonable military act" in waters of the West
Sea on Dec. 17.
A spokesman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the training was conducted in "our
waters" and not the area near the northern limited line as claimed by North
Korea, adding the incident referred to was routine training by an artillery unit
stationed in South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island.
North Korea's claim stated that "at about 14:20 that day, they staged an
underwater explosion exercise three times close to the waters of the north side
southeast of Kuwol Hill, Kangryong County, South Hwanghae Province." And added
that "the exercise conducted under the very nose of the north is a threat to it
and an unpardonable criminal act against it."
(END)