Koreas Clash in Naval Exchange as US, North Begin Nuclear Talks

Naval vessels from both Koreas exchanged fire at a disputed western sea border on Monday, with the damaged North Korean ship retreating. Meanwhile, a US envoy will soon travel to the North for nuclear talks, and Obama will arrive in Seoul later this week.

According to reports by FOX News and the BBC, two Korean naval vessels, one South, one North, clashed in disputed waters near the South Korean-held island of Daechong on Monday. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff claimed that the North Korean vessel crossed the disputed border at approximately 11:27AM GMT time. As described by the Joint Chiefs' report, the South Korean naval vessel fired warning shots at the approaching ship, which returned fire. The South Korean ship then turned its guns on the DPNK naval vessel and fired a barrage directly at the ship. The DPNK vessel was reported heavily damaged in the the exchange and retreated back to North Korean waters. South Korea's military added that North Korean ships have violated its sea borders 22 times this year. The DPNK's military has since issued a press release blaming South Korea for its "grave armed provocation," claiming that the South's vessel crossed into North Korean territory illegally. The DPNK release also claimed that a group of the South's warships opened fire, but fled after the North's patrol boat dealt "a prompt retaliatory blow." The release, carried on the official Korean Central News Agency, also demanded apologies. Similar naval clashes also occurred in disputed territorial waters in 1999 and 2002. Claims of territorial violations are common from both countries. The United States has a history here as well. In 1968, North Korean patrol boats attacked and seized the USS Pueblo, an electronic intelligence collection vessel, charging it with being in DPNK waters illegally. Though the US government disputed the violation claim, the USS Pueblo's 83 crew members were held for eleven months before being released. This recent incident could not come at a worse time for the Obama administration's diplomatic efforts with the North. Obama's special envoy, Stephen Bosworth, will be traveling to North Korea soon for two-party talks on the North's nuclear program. The President himself is due to arrive in Seoul later this week.