Second Battle of Yeonpyeong

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Second Battle of Yeonpyeong
partof=Korean War
date=June 29, 2002
place=Northern Limit Line, Yellow Sea
result= South Korean Victory
combatant1=flagicon|South Korea South Korea
combatant2=flagicon|North Korea North Korea
commander1=
commander2=
strength1=4 patrol craft,
2 corvettes
strength2= 2 patrol craft
casualties1=1 patrol boat sunk
6 KIA
18 WIA
casualties2=1 patrol boat severely damaged
~30 casualties|

The First Battle of Yeonpyeong was a confrontation between North Korean and South Korean patrol boats along a disputed boundary near Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea in 2002. This followed a similar confrontation in 1999.

Background

The Northern Limit Line is considered by South Korea as the sea boundary between itself and North Korea, while North Korea disagrees and states that the boundary is farther south. North Korean fishing vessels often wander into the area and are frequently chased away by South Korean patrol vessels. On occasion a North Korean patrol will try to enforce its southern claim by traversing the limit line. In 2002 one such incursion turned into a naval battle along the limit line.

Engagement

On June 29, 2002 a North Korean patrol boat crossed the northern limit line and was warned to turn back. Shortly afterward a second patrol craft crossed the line and it too was warned to retreat back across the line. After traveling three miles south past the limit line, the North Korean vessels attacked the four South Korean patrol boats that had been monitoring them. The vessel that had crossed the line first opened fire with its 85mm gun and scored a direct hit on the wheelhouse of one of the South Korean craft causing several casualties. Two patrol corvettes soon reinforced the South Korean vessels and severely damaged one of the North Korean craft forcing a retreat. The damaged South Korean craft later sunk while under tow. Both sides laid blame on each other and both South Korea and the United Nations demanded an apology from North Korea. North Korea later apologized for the occurrence and promised to take steps from such incidents from occurring in the future.

ources

*http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/dprk/2002/dprk-020701-1.htm
*http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0WDQ/is_2002_July_8/ai_88685568