WARNING SHOTS

South Korea Fires at North’s Vessels

After fishing boats crossed disputed border.

South Korea’s navy fired warning shots at North Korean fishing boats Friday after the vessels crossed a maritime boundary that has been disputed since the end of the Korean War. A South Korean official confirmed the shots to the Associated Press, adding that the vessels quickly retreated to their territory. The disputed boundary is not clearly marked, resulting in frequent skirmishes in the seafood-rich Yellow Sea waters near the Korean peninsula. The South Korean official said North Korea has long refused to recognize the boundary and that South Korea’s military would “promptly and sternly respond, without hesitation” if boats continue to cross the border.