ID :
68172
Mon, 06/29/2009 - 10:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/68172
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N. Korea suffered over twice as many deaths as S. Korea in 2002 skirmish: former
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- Despite opening fire first and killing six South
Korean soldiers, the North Korean navy is believed to have suffered over a dozen
deaths in the most recent skirmish between the divided countries, a former
intelligence officer here said Monday.
No precise number of North Korean casualties has been available from a pertinent
source on the 2002 battle, which took place near the western sea border between
the Koreas.
Kwon Young-dal, a retired major general who was in charge of intelligence for the
South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, said 13 North Korean soldiers died while 25
others were wounded.
"That was our conclusion," said the 59-year-old who went on to serve as the South
Korean ambassador to Sri Lanka after retiring.
The revelation came on the seventh anniversary of the clash, which resulted in
six South Korean soldiers being killed and nearly 20 others wounded.
A similar battle had erupted three years before in the vicinity of the Northern
Limit Line (NLL), a de facto maritime border that North Korea says should be
drawn further south.
No South Korean was killed in the 1999 battle while North Korea is estimated to
have suffered over two dozen deaths.
Controversy arose here following the 2002 clash over whether to conclusively
define it as a South Korean victory because the number of North Korean casualties
was circulated in a ballpark figure.
The South Korean boat that had engaged also sank while its North Korean
counterpart was tugged back to its port after the clash.
"Even though the North Korean Navy managed to bring its ship back to the coast,
the figures regarding casualties suggested South Korean dominance," Kwon said by
phone.
South and North Korea remain technically at war because their 1950-53 Korean War
ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
Tension runs high near the NLL after North Korea -- which conducted its second
nuclear test and test-fired a series of missiles in recent months -- repeatedly
warned of an armed conflict in the area this year.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, June 29 (Yonhap) -- Despite opening fire first and killing six South
Korean soldiers, the North Korean navy is believed to have suffered over a dozen
deaths in the most recent skirmish between the divided countries, a former
intelligence officer here said Monday.
No precise number of North Korean casualties has been available from a pertinent
source on the 2002 battle, which took place near the western sea border between
the Koreas.
Kwon Young-dal, a retired major general who was in charge of intelligence for the
South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, said 13 North Korean soldiers died while 25
others were wounded.
"That was our conclusion," said the 59-year-old who went on to serve as the South
Korean ambassador to Sri Lanka after retiring.
The revelation came on the seventh anniversary of the clash, which resulted in
six South Korean soldiers being killed and nearly 20 others wounded.
A similar battle had erupted three years before in the vicinity of the Northern
Limit Line (NLL), a de facto maritime border that North Korea says should be
drawn further south.
No South Korean was killed in the 1999 battle while North Korea is estimated to
have suffered over two dozen deaths.
Controversy arose here following the 2002 clash over whether to conclusively
define it as a South Korean victory because the number of North Korean casualties
was circulated in a ballpark figure.
The South Korean boat that had engaged also sank while its North Korean
counterpart was tugged back to its port after the clash.
"Even though the North Korean Navy managed to bring its ship back to the coast,
the figures regarding casualties suggested South Korean dominance," Kwon said by
phone.
South and North Korea remain technically at war because their 1950-53 Korean War
ended in a truce rather than a peace treaty.
Tension runs high near the NLL after North Korea -- which conducted its second
nuclear test and test-fired a series of missiles in recent months -- repeatedly
warned of an armed conflict in the area this year.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
