2nd Battle of the Western Sea

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2002 Western Sea Engagement
Part of Korean War
Date 29 June 2002
Location Northern Limit Line, Yellow Sea
Result South Korean Victory
Belligerents
Flag of South Korea South Korea Flag of North Korea North Korea
Strength
4 patrol craft,
2 corvettes		 2 patrol craft
Casualties and losses
1 patrol boat sunk
6 KIA
18 WIA		 1 patrol boat severely damaged
~30 casualties
v • d • e
Korean War
Ongjin Peninsula – Uijeongbu – Munsan – Chuncheon/Hongcheon – Gangneung – Miari – Han River – Osan – Donglakri – Danyang – Jincheon – Yihwaryeong – Daejeon – Pusan Perimeter – Incheon – Pakchon – Chosin Reservoir – Faith – Twin Tunnels – Ripper – Courageous – Tomahawk – Yultong Bridge – Imjin River – Kapyong – Bloody Ridge – Heartbreak Ridge – Sunchon – Hill Eerie – Sui-ho Dam – White Horse – Old Baldy – The Hook – Pork Chop Hill – Outpost Harry- Major Armistace Infractions– 1st Western Sea– 2nd Western Sea

The 2nd Battle of the Western Sea was a confrontation between North Korean and South Korean patrol boats along a disputed boundary in the Yellow Sea in 2002. This followed a similar confrontation in 1999.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Sources

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