N. Korea demands apology from South over naval clash (not a moment too soon)

Yonhap News ^ | 11/10/09

[TigerLikesRooster]

2009/11/10 15:43 KST

N. Korea demands apology from South over naval clash

SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korea demanded an apology from South Korea over a naval clash on the western sea border on Tuesday, calling the skirmish a "grave armed provocation" by the South that targeted a patrol boat on routine duty.

"Today the north side let a patrol boat of the Navy of the KPA (Korean People's Army) on routine guard duty promptly go into action to confirm an unidentified object that intruded into the waters of its side," the North's Supreme Command of the KPA said in a report carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

The patrol boat was "sailing back after confirming the object," the report said, when "a group of warships of the South Korean forces chased it and perpetrated such a grave provocation as firing at it," the command said.

The North's military also warned that it was "always combat-ready."

Naval boats of the two Koreas opened fire on each other shortly before midday on the Yellow Sea border, where bloody skirmishes occurred in 1999 and 2002.

No South Korean casualties were reported, but North Korea's patrol boat retreated after apparently suffering "considerable" damage near Baekryeong island, according to a Navy official in South Korea.

[TigerLikesRooster]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/politics/2009/11/10/0521000000AKR20091110149800043.HTML?template=2085

Announcement by Joint Chief of Staffs:

• 11:28 ~ 31 AM: Sent two warning messages
• 11:32 AM: Sent message to fire warning shots
• 11:36 AM: Warning shots fired in front of the intruding N. Korean vessel.
• 11:37 ~ 39 AM: N. Korean fired 50 rounds at the S. Korean vessel. 15 rounds hit outer compartment wall between left side of the bridge and the helm control. S. Korean vessel immediately returned fire, firing 100 rounds from 40mm gun. The engagement lasted two minutes. N. Korea vessel was heavily damaged and billowing smoke.
• 11:40 AM: N. Korean vessel crossed back NLL into N. Korean water on its own power.

[oyez]

N. Korea demands apology

South Korea should tell the North Korea how fortunate for them that their navy showed restraint.

[Cindy]

THREAD BUMP.

[AmericanInTokyo]

She says (apparantly)today in the National Assembly "God Bless Our Navy of the Republic of Korea", and "they displayed fighting spirit of our Republic today".

[TigerLikesRooster]

Yes, National Assembly Woman Park Sun-young is known for tough talks.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The North will get their apology when hell freezes over. They should apologize for all of the DMZ incursions,weapons development for rogue nations and WMD proliferation over the decades.

[reagandemocrat]

“We’re sorry that only 15 rounds hit your ship”

[GeronL]

Good. Who is the younger girl in between the desks? Staffer? Stenogapher? reporter? (but I repeat myself) or maybe foot massager?

[GeronL]

15 rounds hit the South Korean sjip, I bet the Nork ship was hit by at least 70

[TigerLikesRooster]

Looks like a reporter. An odd place for press folks.:-)

[GeronL]

More like an obvious place for American press. heh

[tet68]

•11:37 ~ 39 AM: N. Korean fired 50 rounds at the S. Korean vessel. 15 rounds hit outer compartment wall between left side of the bridge and the helm control. S. Korean vessel immediately returned fire, firing 100 rounds from 40mm gun. The engagement lasted two minutes. N. Korea vessel was heavily damaged and billowing smoke.

Doesn’t say much for Nork capabilities.

[GeronL]

South Korean technology is better. I guess the Norks could go for quantity but thats tough when the workers are all starving.

[reagandemocrat]

Right. My mistake.

How’s this:

“We’re sorry that we didn’t sink your Nork patrol boat”

[GeronL]

That would be good. I wish our politicians would grow a pair or at least one.