North Korea boat crosses south of disputed Northern Limit Line

SEOUL, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A North Korean patrol boat crossed a disputed maritime demarcation line, causing South Korea's military to fire warning shots at the vessel.

The boat crossed the Northern Limit Line less than two days after Pyongyang launched into orbit the Kwangmyongsong-4, an earth observation satellite, South Korean news network MBN reported.

South Korea military vessels issued warnings four times, but the North Korean patrol boat did not stop, South Korean television network KBS reported.

The boat managed to reach 300 meters south of the NLL, after crossing the line around 6:55 a.m. local time early Monday.

A Seoul military official said the vessel returned north of the line after South Korea fired warning shots. Five shots in total were fired from a naval 76-mm gun, and in 20 minutes the patrol boat returned to the north of the NLL.

"After trespassing the NLL in the West Sea, through the issuance of warning shots [the military] was able to drive out the boat immediately," said Jeon Ha-gyu, a spokesman for the South's Joint Chiefs.

Another military source said Seoul has been closely watching the NLL area since the start of North Korea provocations in January.

"We have been monitoring North Korea troop movements, while staying on high alert in a state of preparedness," the source said.