---
title: "South Korea fires warning shots at North Korean ship crossing sea border"
description: "South Korea fired warning shots on Friday at a North Korean commercial vessel that crossed the maritime border in disputed waters off the Korean peninsula's west coast, and the vessel subsequently retreated, the South's military said."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-26-south-korea-fires-warning-shots-at-north-korean-ship-crossing-sea-border/"
published: "2025-09-26T04:22:36"
updated: "2025-09-26T04:22:38"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 79
---

# South Korea fires warning shots at North Korean ship crossing sea border

> South Korea fired warning shots on Friday at a North Korean commercial vessel that crossed the maritime border in disputed waters off the Korean peninsula's west coast, and the vessel subsequently retreated, the South's military said.

By Reuters · Published 26 September 2025, 06:22 SAST · Updated 26 September 2025, 06:22 SAST

## Key points
- In a classic case of "you stay on your side, I'll stay on mine," South Korea's military issued verbal warnings during a Friday incursion, reminding North Korea that the Northern Limit Line is as real as their refusal to acknowledge it.
- South Korean military issued verbal warnings during a Friday incursion, adhering to standard protocol.
- The operation took place near the disputed Northern Limit Line, established post-Korean War.
- This area has a history of deadly naval clashes, underscoring ongoing tensions.
- North Korea continues to reject the Northern Limit Line as a legitimate maritime border.

## Content

The incursion early on Friday also involved South Korean military transmitting verbal warnings and the operation followed standard protocol, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The waters around the so-called Northern Limit Line border, which was drawn up after the 1950-53 Korean War, have been the scene of deadly naval clashes in the past. North Korea does not recognise the line as the border.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Michael Perry)