Asia-Pacific
Two Koreas' major incidents along border
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-03-27 00:30
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SEOUL: A naval vessel from the Republic of Korea (ROK) was sinking off the west coast on Friday and the government in Seoul was investigating whether it had been struck by a torpedo from the People's Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK), media reports said.
The following are border incidents over the past several years between the states, which are technically still at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended with a ceasefire and not a peace treaty:
December 18, 1998 - ROK navy sinks submersible DPRK vessel on east coast. A scuba diver from DPRK is found dead.
June 1999 - At least 17 and as many as 80 DPRK sailors killed in naval firefight over Northern Limit Line (NLL), a west coast, Yellow Sea border contested by Pyongyang. One of the DPRK vessels was sunk, others damaged.
Clash followed nine days of DPRK incursions into ROK waters.
June 29, 2002 - A clash between two Koreas' naval vessels in Yellow Sea sinks one ROK frigate and kills six ROK sailors and an estimated 13 from DPRK.
July 17, 2003 - Seoul says its troops returned machinegun fire a minute after DPRK shot at an observation post in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) buffer between the states.
May 26, 2006 - Two DPRK soldiers enter DMZ and cross into ROK. They return after ROK's warning shots.
July 11, 2008 - ROK tourist, a 53-year-old housewife, shot dead by DPRK soldier at its Mount Kumgang resort, which is run by ROK companies.
November 10, 2009 - Two Koreas have brief naval fight just south of the NLL that causes damage to vessels on both sides.
January 27, 2010 - Two Koreas exchange artillery fire near the NLL sea border.
March 26, 2010 - ROK navy ship sinks near disputed Yellow Sea maritime border off the west coast.
