The ROK Navy warned the North Korean vessel for the first time at 9 a.m., followed by the second warning as it crossed the NLL. According to the press release of the JCS, the ROK Navy’s patrol killer fired three times at the North Korean patrol ship that followed the vessel at 9:49 a.m. The North Korean ship then changed its course northwards, when the Navy boarded the vessel and started to investigate.
Total seven crews were on board, six of which were unarmed and wore the North Korean military uniform. All of them refused to defect and claimed to the ROK Navy that they mistakenly set a wrong course while carrying cargo on the vessel.
On the next day, March 9th, the Korean military handed over the seven crews and the seized vessel to North Korea near the NLL at 2 p.m.
“It was confirmed that the vessel crossed the NLL by mistake due to its wrong course setting and technical defects, and all crews wished to return to North Korea. Six of the total seven crews are military service members.”
A source from the ROK Armed Forces
