SEOUL - A merchant vessel of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) returned to the north after crossing the "inter-Korean maritime border" on Friday, Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement.
The DPRK vessel crossed the "Northern Limit Line (NLL)" near the ROK western border island of Baengnyeong at about 5:00 am local time (2000 GMT Thursday), said the statement.
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After the ROK military issued warning broadcasts and fired warning shots, the vessel retreated northward, it added.
The DPRK does not recognize the NLL as the inter-Korean sea boundary as it was drawn by the US-led forces after the 1950-53 Korean War ended.
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The JCS said the ROK military will firmly maintain its readiness posture and resolutely respond to any situation to protect the NLL.
