DPRK merchant vessel returns after crossing “sea boundary”: S. Korean military

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) — A merchant vessel of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) returned to the north after crossing the “inter-Korean maritime border” on Friday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement.
The DPRK vessel crossed the “Northern Limit Line (NLL)” near the South Korean western border island of Baengnyeong at about 5:00 a.m. local time (2000 GMT Thursday), said the statement.
After the South Korean military issued warning broadcasts and fired warning shots, the vessel retreated northward, it added.
The DPRK does not recognize the NLL as the inter-Korean sea boundary as it was drawn by the U.S.-led forces after the 1950-53 Korean War ended.
The JCS said the South Korean military will firmly maintain its readiness posture and resolutely respond to any situation to protect the NLL. Enditem