Action of 17 December 1998

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Action of 17 December 1998
partof=Korean War
date=December 17, 1998 - December 18, 1998
place=off the coast of Yosu, South Korea
result= South Korean Victory
combatant1=flagicon|South Korea South Korea
combatant2=flagicon|North Korea North Korea
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=12 ships,
3 P-3 Orions
strength2=1 semi-submersible craft
casualties1=none
casualties2=1 semi-submersible sunk
~4 dead|The Acton of 17 December 1998 was a naval battle that began when the South Korean military intercepted a North Korean semi-submersible vessel attempting to land commandos on the South Korean coast.

Background

Throughout 1998 there had been several incidents involving North Korean infiltrators attempting to land on the coast. In June a North Korean submarine had been found in South Korean waters off Sokcho entangled in fishing nets with a dead crew that had committed suicide to evade capture. Another infiltration occurred in July when a dead commando and abandoned North Korean craft was discovered near the city of Tonghae.

Battle

On December 17th a ten ton North Korean infiltration vessel was discovered by the about a mile off the coast of Yosu. About a dozen South Korean ships were scrambled to intercept it. After several warnings were given the South Korean Navy fired warning shots at the semi-submersible. The North Korean craft ignored the warnings and opened fire on the South Korean vessels. It then attempted to escape fleeing some 60 miles while being tracked by patrol planes and boats before finally sucombing to gunfire from the South Korean vessels the next day.

Aftermath

After sinking the intruder in 300 feet of water the South Koreans attempted to recover the bodies of the dead North Koreans as well as recover pieces of the infiltration craft. The body of one North Korean frogman was found and from the size and type of the vessel it was assumed that the entire crew consisted of around four sailors and that all had perished. Searches were also conducted on nearby land to make sure that infiltrators had not landed on the coastline. When questioned the North Korean government denied sending the vessel or knowing anything about its origins. This incident helped fuel increasing tensions between the two governments and an even larger naval skirmish was fought the next year.

ources

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905EFD91231F930A25754C0A96E958260
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SQgFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7zEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6453,2822280&dq=north+korean+submarine+sunk
http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19981219/35350264.html
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E4D6113DF93BA25751C1A96E958260