South Korean military officials reported on Friday that a North Korean merchant vessel breached the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the northwestern region, prompting South Korean forces to fire warning shots.
According to a statement from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it was noted that at approximately 5:00 a.m., a North Korean merchant ship crossed the NLL northwest of Baengnyeong Island. Our forces responded by issuing warning broadcasts and firing warning shots. Subsequently, the North Korean vessel retreated from the South Korean territorial waters.
The statement further noted that South Korean military maintains vigilant surveillance of North Korean activities and responded in accordance with established operational protocols. They remain in a heightened state of readiness and are prepared to respond decisively to any situation to safeguard the NLL.