North Korean patrol boat "enters South Korean territorial waters"

Yonhap news agency on October 25 quoted a South Korean military official as saying that a North Korean patrol boat entered South Korean territorial waters, but withdrew shortly afterward.

“A North Korean patrol boat crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL) and advanced about 0.36 kilometers into the territorial waters east of South Korea’s Baengnyeong Island around 11 a.m. on October 25 while trying to chase Chinese fishing boats illegally fishing in the area,” a South Korean official said, Yonhap quoted.

According to the same official, the North Korean ship withdrew at around 11:07 a.m. after the South Korean military sent a warning signal.

The South Korean military said there are currently about 70 Chinese fishing boats fishing in the nearby area and there are no signs of unusual action from North Korea.

South Korean ships participate in a military exercise - Photo: Reuters

In another development, on October 25, the South Korean military began its annual large-scale exercise called Hoguk to deal with threats from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, amid rising tensions between the two sides.

The week-long exercise involves 240,000 soldiers from the South Korean navy, army, air force and marines, along with police officers. About 500 US troops are taking part in the exercise, according to AFP.

According to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), this year's exercise was expanded in scale "to counter North Korea's provocations and an all-out war," based on the recent security situation. North Korea has repeatedly condemned the South Korean exercise, calling it "a war of aggression."

According to Tuoitre - DT