DPRK patrol ship returns after nearing inter-Korean sea border

SEOUL -- A patrol ship from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) returned back to the north after coming closer to a disputed western sea border, local broadcaster YTN reported Thursday citing the South Korean military.

The DPRK guard ship sailed south to the waters just 160 meters north of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) at around 10:30 a.m. local time (0130 GMT).

The DPRK ship moved back to the north after the South Korean Navy ships on patrol issued warning broadcastings.

There was neither exchange of fire nor military conflict as the DPRK vessel returned to the north after the warnings.

A South Korean military official was quoted as saying that DPRK patrol ships often sail closer to the NLL, which Pyongyang does not recognize.

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