N. Korean fishing boat returns after intrusion into S. Korean waters

SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean fishing boat crossed into the South
Korean side of the western sea border due to poor visibility Tuesday, staying
more than two hours before being towed back to the North Korean side, South
Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
The intrusion took place at 0:45 p.m. about 12.6km northeast of the South Korean
island of Daecheong in the Yellow Sea, the officials said.
The 5-ton North Korean boat strayed about 3.6km into the South Korean side of the
Northern Limit Line (NLL) and developed mechanical trouble as it was hit by poor
visibility in dense fog.
A North Korean patrol boat crossed into the southern side and towed the troubled
boat back to the North's side at 3:00 p.m., according to the officials.
The South Korean navy informed the North Korean army of the intrusion three
times, but the North stopped short of responding to the notification.
"It appears that the North Korean fishing vessel trespassed over the NLL as the
range of visibility was a mere 45 meters at the time of intrusion," an official
said.
North Korea insists the NLL, drawn unilaterally by the U.N. Command at the end of
the 1950-53 Korean War, is illegitimate and the border should be drawn farther
south.
Deadly naval skirmishes erupted between the two Koreas near the NLL in 1999 and
2002.
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