SEOUL, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- South Korea fired warning shots at a fishing boat from the North that crossed into its waters Wednesday, the Defense Ministry said.
The North Korean ship retreated north of the line off the peninsula's west coast, the ministry told The New York Times.
The countries have had several naval skirmishes on their disputed maritime border in recent years, and a South Korean naval vessel sank there in March, killing 46 sailors.
Wednesday's incident comes a week before the Group of 20 economic summit opens in Seoul.
President Lee Myung-bak did not mention the clash at his news conference Wednesday, but said the government "will be fully prepared for all contingencies" during the conference.
"Regarding North Korea, I believe they will be responsible during the Seoul summit," he said. "We don't envisage North Korea engaging in any inappropriate activities."
North Korean border guards fired at a Southern post on Friday, and the South Koreans returned fire, the Defense Ministry said last week. The firing seemed accidental but is being investigated, an official in Seoul said.
