N. Korea accuses Seoul of trying to incite naval clash

SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Wednesday accused the South Korean
government of trying to incite a third inter-Korean naval clash in the Yellow Sea
by beefing up its military strength along the western sea border region.

South Korea has increased deployment of naval troops and vessels to the Yellow
Sea border area as fears grow of another clash with the North. Two naval
skirmishes claimed scores of lives on both sides in 1999 and 2002.
"Current inter-Korean relations are now in a touch-and-go crisis in which a war
may break out at any moment because of the South Korean government's maneuvers
against its fellow countrymen," the Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper
published by the Workers' Party, said in a commentary.
North Korea declared last month it would no longer guarantee the safety of South
Korean and U.S. ships operating in the western sea border region, protesting
South Korea's participation in a U.S.-led Proliferation Security Initiative.
The inter-Korean sea border, called the Northern Limit Line, was unilaterally
drawn by the U.S.-led U.N. Command after the 1950-53 Korean War. North Korea
claims the border should be re-drawn further south.
The paper criticized South Korea's recent naming of a new guided missile patrol
boat, the Yun Yeong Ha, after an officer killed in the 2002 battle as
anti-Pyongyang propaganda.
The South Korean military is "inspiring hostility against our republic on a large
scale ... This is evidence that proves the puppets are determined to wage a new
armed clash in the Yellow Sea and that they are gearing up to bring that into
action," it said.
A U.S. destroyer, meanwhile, was closely monitoring a North Korean ship, the Kang
Nam, which is suspected of carrying missile material. The case is the first such
following new U.N. sanctions imposed after the North's May 25 underground nuclear
test. North Korea has warned any search attempt of its ships will be considered
an act of war and will be dealt with via a "military response."
hkim@yna.co.kr
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