Korean military vessels 'exchange fire'
Korean naval vessels exchange fire across disputed sea border, local reports claim
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Tuesday, 10, Nov 2009 10:11
By Richard James.
Korean naval vessels have exchanged fire across a disputed sea border, according to local reports.
A South Korean warship shot at a North Korean navy ship on Tuesday morning, with the latter then firing back, military officials in the south have claimed.
According to the Associated Press news agency, an officer from Seoul's joint chiefs of staff has suggested the North Korean ship was seriously damaged and forced to turn back towards northern waters.
There have so far been no reports of any casualties in the incident.
The two Koreas are still to agree on their sea border more than 50 years after the end of 1950-53 war.
Last month Pyongyang accused the south of entering its territory in waters off the west coast and warned of future conflict.
North Korea has continued to court controversy for the majority of this year, carrying out underground nuclear tests in the summer as well as test-firing a series of short-range missiles.
The international community is still attempting to bring Pyongyang back into nuclear disarmament talks.
The recent military action has been seen by some as an attempt by the communist state's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il, reportedly beset by health problems, to secure his succession.
His youngest son Kim Jong-un, 25, is his father's choice to assume control of the chairmanship of the country's national defence commission, its top military and political body.