By Jung Sung-ki
Staff reporter
The government paid homage Tuesday to the sailors who had lost their lives in a naval skirmish with North Korea in 2002 and vowed to defend against any further North Korean provocation.
In a speech during a ceremony at the War Memorial of Korea, Seoul, Prime Minister Chung Un-chan said the fallen soldiers have earned more “respectful” treatment for their solemn sacrifice.
The eighth anniversary of the second Yeonpyeong naval battle comes amid heightened tension between the two Koreas following an alleged North Korean torpedo attack on a South Korean warship in March in the West Sea.
“North Korea must frankly and clearly apologize for its wrongdoings and come to the table for dialogue and cooperation as soon as possible,” the prime minister said.
About 2,500 guests, including the families of the seamen killed in the bloody battle in waters off Yeonpyeong Island and representatives from all walks of life, attended the ceremony.
On June 29 during the 2002 Korea-Japan FIFA World Cup, two North Korean boats crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto sea border. South Korean ships approached to deter the infiltration, and the North abruptly opened fire in violation of the rules of engagement, provoking South Korean ships to return fire.
One of the North Korean ships was heavily damaged and 30 North Koreans are believed to have been killed or wounded. Six South Koreans, including Lt. Comdr. Yoon Young-ha, were killed and 18 others injured.
A Chamsuri-class patrol boat of the South Korean Navy sank while being towed back to shore.
The previous liberal governments of Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun were reluctant to promote the anniversary of the naval gun battle in an effort not to provoke the North.
The NLL, drawn up by the United Nations Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, has been a flash point for inter-Korean conflicts.
In 1999, South Korean ships defeated their North Korean counterparts, killing at least 30 North Korean sailors and injuring 70 others. The North also lost about 10 naval vessels. Five South Korean ships were damaged and nine sailors were injured.
A similar naval gun exchange occurred last November near the NLL.
On March 26, South Korea’s frigate Cheonan was sunk near the NLL. The sinking sacrificed 46 of the 104 sailors on board the 1,200-ton vessel.
A multinational probe concluded last month that a North Korean midget submarine torpedoed the Cheonan after traversing international waters into the West Sea.