Northern Limit Line

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Northern Limit Line or North Limit Line (NLL) is a disputed maritime demarcation line in the Yellow Sea between North Korea and South Korea.

It was unilaterally set by the U.S.-led United Nations military forces in August 1953 after the UN Military Command and North Korea failed to reach an agreement. It is not officially recognized by North Korea. In particular, it is not included into the Armistice Agreement of 1953 between the two states.

The line runs between the mainland portion of Gyeonggi Province that had been part of Hwanghae before 1945, and the adjacent offshore islands, the largest of which is Baengnyeongdo. As a result, the mainland portion reverted to North Korean control, while the islands remained a part of South Korea. Since 1999, North Korea has claimed a more southerly Maritime Military Demarcation Line, which would make the islands a part of North Korea as well.

Disputes between North and South Korean naval vessels often occur in this area and its issue periodically arises during their talks. Occasionally violance flares up along the line and deadly skirmishes occurred in 1999 and 2002.