List of border incidents involving North and South Korea explained

Conflict:Korean border incidents
Date:1953–present
Place:Korean DMZ & the Northern Limit Line
Result:ongoing
Combatant1:
Combatant2:
United States
Partof:the Cold War (until 1991) and the Korean conflict

The following is a list of border incidents involving North and South Korea since the Korean Armistice Agreement of July 27, 1953, ended large scale military action of the Korean War. Most of these incidents took place near either the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) or the Northern Limit Line (NLL). This list includes engagements on land, air, and sea, but does not include alleged incursions and terrorist incidents that occurred away from the border. A total of 3,693 armed North Korean agents have infiltrated into South Korea between 1954 and 1992, with 20% of these occurring between 1967 and 1968.[1]

Many of the incidents occurring at sea are due to border disputes. In 1977 North Korea claimed an Exclusive Economic Zone over a large area south of the disputed western maritime border, the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea.[2] This is a prime fishing area, particularly for crabs, and clashes commonly occur, which have been dubbed the "Crab Wars".[3] As of January 2011, North Korea had violated the armistice 221 times, including 26 military attacks.[4]

There have also been incursions into North Korea. In 1976, in now-declassified meeting minutes, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense William Clements told Henry Kissinger that there had been 200 raids or incursions into North Korea from the south, though not by the U.S. military.[5] Details of only a few of these incursions have become public, including raids by South Korean forces in 1967 that had sabotaged about 50 North Korean facilities.[6]

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

See also

External links

Web site: https://airandspace.si.edu/support/wall-of-honor/leon-k-pfeiffer.

Notes and References

  1. https://fas.org/man/crs/RL30004.pdf North Korea: Chronology of Provocations, 1950–2003
  2. Maritime Claims Reference Manual – Korea, Democratic People's Republic of (North Korea) . June 23, 2005 . U.S. Department of Defense . DoD 2005.1-M . March 14, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120915174104/http://www.jag.navy.mil/organization/documents/mcrm/korea_north.pdf . 2012-09-15.
  3. News: Crab wars: Calming the waters in the Yellow Sea. https://web.archive.org/web/20030617132101/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/EF14Dg03.html. unfit. June 17, 2003. June 14, 2003. 2010-11-25. Brad. Glosserman. Asia Times.
  4. News: N.K. Commits 221 Provocations Since 1953. Korea Herald. 5 January 2011. 20 March 2013. 29 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130529234242/http://nwww.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20110105000563. live.
  5. Web site: Minutes of Washington Special Actions Group Meeting, Washington, August 25, 1976, 10:30 a.m. . 25 August 1976 . 12 May 2012 . Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State . Clements: I like it. It doesn't have an overt character. I have been told that there have been 200 other such operations and that none of these have surfaced. Kissinger: It is different for us with the War Powers Act. I don't remember any such operations. . 25 September 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120925121535/http://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve12/d286 . live .
  6. News: S. Korea raided North with captured agents in 1967 . . Lee Tae-hoon . 7 February 2011 . 12 May 2012 . 1 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121001195904/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/02/116_80936.html . live .
  7. Web site: North Korea: Chronology of Provocations, 1950 - 2003 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060905062431/http://www.fas.org/man/crs/RL30004.pdf . 2006-09-05 . 2006-08-01.
  8. Book: Seth, Michael. A History of Korea: History to Antiquity . . 12 North Korea: Recovery, Transformation, and Decline, 1953 to 1993.
  9. Lee Tae-hoon (7 February 2011) S. Korea raided North with captured agents in 1967 Korea Times
  10. Web site: Cold War Shootdowns . 2007-12-09 . 2011-06-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110628232152/http://users.skynet.be/Emmanuel.Gustin/faq/shotdowns.html . live .
  11. Web site: North Korean Provocative Actions, 1950 - 2007 . 2007-12-09 . 2007-04-20 . . 2012-11-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121126120223/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL30004.pdf . live .
  12. Book: Bolger, Daniel. Scenes from an Unfinished War: Low intensity conflict in Korea 1966–1969. Diane Publishing Co. 978-0-7881-1208-9. 1991.
  13. http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m5/marta.htm "Marta"
  14. Book: Daniel, Bolger . Scenes from an Unfinished War: Low-Intensity Conflict in Korea, 1966-1968 . 2007-12-10 . . 3: A Continuous Nightmare . http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/scenes/scen_c3.pdf . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071204143937/http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/Bolger/bolger.asp . 2007-12-04.
  15. Web site: Scenes from an Unfinished War: Low-Intensity Conflict in Korea, 1966–1968 . Cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil . 2012-02-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090325103728/http://cgsc.leavenworth.army.mil/carl/download/csipubs/scenes/scen_c3.pdf . 2009-03-25.
  16. Web site: Pueblo . Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships . 2007-12-10 . United States Navy . 2007-10-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071025000030/http://history.navy.mil/danfs/p13/pueblo-iii.htm . dead .
  17. Border Disputes between China and North Korea. Daniel. Gomà Pinilla. China Perspectives. 1 March 2004. 2004. 52. 10.4000/chinaperspectives.806. chinaperspectives.revues.org. free. 25 March 2014. 13 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110913025240/http://chinaperspectives.revues.org/806. live.
  18. Web site: filtration of North Korean Commando Troops into Ulchin-Samchok Area . 2007-12-12 . 2006-08-31 . Koreascope . 2014-12-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141219161555/http://www.koreascope.org/tt/eNorthKoreaToday/entry/filtration-of-North-Korean-Commando-Troops-into-Ulchin-Samchok-Area . live .
  19. News: 7 GIs Die in Korean DMZ Fighting . The Hartford Courant . March 17, 1969 . July 6, 2017 . November 2, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121102095429/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/967649642.html?dids=967649642:967649642&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+17,+1969&author=&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=7+GIs+Die+in+Korean+DMZ+Fighting&pqatl=google . dead .
  20. Web site: NSA.gov. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140918024153/https://www.nsa.gov/public_info/_files/cryptologic_histories/EC-121.pdf. 2014-09-18.
  21. News: U.S. Apologizes to N. Korea, to Gain Prisoner Release. Golden Transcript. December 3, 1969. January 10, 2021. January 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210112174223/https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/?a=d&d=GOT19691203-01.2.7&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7CtxCO%7CtxTA--------0------1. live.
  22. Web site: http://dx.doi.org/10.17658/issn.2058-5462/issue-05/mmyrone/p21 . 2023-11-11 . 10.17658/issn.2058-5462/issue-05/mmyrone/p21 .
  23. http://www.koreandmz.org/incursions Incursions
  24. Lones B Seiber (June 2007) United States’ engagement strategy for North Korea .Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive; Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  25. News: 1974-06-29. NORTH KOREA SINKS SEOUL PATROL SHIP. The New York Times. 2023-01-06. 0362-4331. 2021-03-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20210309010630/https://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/29/archives/north-korea-sinks-seoul-patrol-ship.html. live.
  26. KOREA: Careful Response to an Accident . https://web.archive.org/web/20080408130213/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,919105,00.html . dead . April 8, 2008 . TIME . 1977-07-25 . 2010-09-11.
  27. DMZ after action report Oct 1979
  28. Web site: John Pike . Demilitarized Zone . Globalsecurity.org . 2010-09-11 . 2010-03-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100331152533/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/dmz-list.htm . live .
  29. Web site: Brian Lee. 17 October 2002. DPRK: Headquarters Intelligence Detachment: The military unit from hell. 2023-01-06. irp.fas.org. 2023-01-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20230106224955/https://irp.fas.org/world/rok/hid.htm. live.
  30. Web site: 3 KOREANS KILLED AS SOLDIERS TRADE SHOTS IN THE DMZ. 24 November 1984. The New York Times. 22 December 2017. 25 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171225031440/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/24/world/3-koreans-killed-as-soldiers-trade-shots-in-the-dmz.html. live.
  31. News: North Koreans Free U.S. Pilot Held 13 Days. Andrew. Pollack. The New York Times. 30 December 1994. 17 February 2017. 13 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170313090854/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/30/world/north-koreans-free-us-pilot-held-13-days.html. live.
  32. Park Soo Gil. "Letter dated 28 July 1997 from the permanent representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council". United Nations Archives and Records Management Section. 1997-07-28. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
  33. News: Kirk. Don. Tribune. International Herald. 1998-07-15. North Korean Raiders Dim the South's 'Sunshine Policy'. The New York Times. 2023-01-06. 0362-4331. 2023-02-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215230818/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/15/news/north-korean-raiders-dim-the-souths-sunshine-policy.html. live.
  34. KPA Journal, Vol. 2 No. 4 . live . KPA Journal . 21 August 2022 . 19 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220919005606/http://static1.1.sqspcdn.com/static/f/716134/12437788/1306617390260/KPAJ-2-04.pdf?token=yBrpwbL7ZB34erZpApSeGKX77Dc%3D .
  35. Web site: N. Korean MiGs Intercepted U.S. Plane. CBS News. March 4, 2003 . 2021-10-13. 2021-10-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170437/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/n-korean-migs-intercepted-us-plane/. live.
  36. News: U.S. Says North Korea hoped to seize spy plane. Sfgate . 8 March 2003. 13 October 2021. 29 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211029174437/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/U-S-says-North-Korea-hoped-to-seize-spy-plane-2664990.php. live . Schmitt . Eric .
  37. Web site: North, South Trade Fire Along DMZ. VOA News. 2006-08-02. 2008-03-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20080327115806/http://www.voanews.com/tibetan/archive/2003-07/a-2003-07-17-2-1.cfm. live.
  38. News: South Korean 'defector' wanted for assault. Associated Press. 2009-10-28. 2015-05-08. 2015-05-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20150509010723/http://asiancorrespondent.com/23878/south-korean-defector-wanted-for-assault/. live.
  39. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20120111154436/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/11/10/27/0301000000AEN20091110007900315F.HTML. 11 January 2012. 10 November 2009. San Kim. (7th LD) Koreas clash in Yellow Sea, blame each other. dead . 2023-01-06. Yonhap News Agency.
  40. News: North Korea ship 'in flames after naval clash', says Seoul . . December 23, 2011 . November 12, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091112021340/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/north-korea-ship-in-flames-after-naval-clash-says-seoul/story-e6frf7lf-1225796290282 . live .
  41. News: 2010-01-27. N Korea exchanges fire with South. 2023-01-06. 2023-01-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20230106224955/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8482251.stm. live.
  42. News: N. Korea fires into western sea border. 27 January 2010. Yonhap News. https://web.archive.org/web/20100603080327/http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2010/01/27/33/0301000000AEN20100127004100315F.HTML. June 3, 2010.
  43. News: DPRK fires artillery again near disputed sea border: gov't. https://web.archive.org/web/20100202021908/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-01/29/c_13155902.htm. dead. February 2, 2010. Tang. Anne. January 29, 2010. Xinhua.
  44. News: North Korea condemned by world powers over torpedo attack. Daily Telegraph. 20 May 2010. 20 May 2010. London. Peter. Foster. Malcolm. Moore. 20 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100520101719/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/7743830/North-Korea-condemned-by-world-powers-over-torpedo-attack.html. live.
  45. News: Press Conference on Situation in Korean Peninsula: DPRK Permanent Representative to the United Nations Sin Son Ho. United Nations. Department of Public Information. 15 June 2010. 11 July 2010. 4 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110504164240/http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2010/100615_Cheonan.doc.htm. live.
  46. News: Presidential Statement: Attack on Republic of Korea Naval Ship 'Cheonan'. United Nations. United Nations Security Council. 9 July 2010. S/PRST/2010/13. 11 July 2010. 13 July 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100713190615/http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2010/sc9975.doc.htm. live.
  47. News: troops 'fire into South Korea'.. BBC News. 2010-10-29. 2010-10-29. 2010-10-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20101030041752/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11650810. live.
  48. News: 북한 해안포 도발 감행, 연평도에 포탄 100여발 떨어져. 2010-11-23. November 23, 2010. The Chosun Ilbo. 2010-11-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20101126073632/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/11/23/2010112301235.html. live.
  49. News: GLOBAL MARKETS: European Stocks Seen Lower On Korea News . . November 23, 2010.
  50. News: North Korea fires on South Korea – live coverage . London . The Guardian . Adam . Gabbatt . November 23, 2010 . December 17, 2016 . February 25, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170225203918/https://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2010/nov/23/north-korea-fires-south-korea . live .
  51. News: Gwon. Seung-jun. 합참 "우리 군 대응사격으로 북한 측 피해도 상당할 것". The Chosun Ilbo. 23 November 2010. 23 November 2010. 26 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101126072006/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/11/23/2010112301706.html. live.
  52. News: Military Admits Lies and Lapses Over Defection . . 11 October 2012 . 9 November 2015 . 23 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160223061130/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/10/11/2012101100762.html . live .
  53. News: Defecting N.Korean Soldier 'Saw No Hope' . . 8 October 2012 . 9 November 2015 . 25 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160225204953/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/10/08/2012100801433.html . live .
  54. News: Man Killed Trying to Defect to N.Korea. The Chosun Ilbo. 17 September 2013. 9 November 2015. 5 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160305013152/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2013/09/17/2013091700718.html. live.
  55. News: South Korean Military Defends Shooting of Defector . Schearf . Daniel . Voice of America . 17 September 2013 . 3 August 2019 . 3 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190803125239/https://www.voanews.com/east-asia/south-korean-military-defends-shooting-defector . live .
  56. News: Maritime incursion by North Korean warship sparks tension. 26 February 2014. North Korean News.Net. https://web.archive.org/web/20140302002529/http://www.northkoreannews.net/index.php/sid/220229236/scat/08aysdf7tga9s7f7/ht/Maritime-incursion-by-North-Korean-warship-sparks-tension. 2 March 2014. dead. dmy-all.
  57. News: Mystery drones found in Baengnyeong, Paju. Korea JoongAng Daily. 2 April 2014. 16 September 2014. 16 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140916170346/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2987297. live.
  58. News: South Korea: Drones 'confirmed as North Korean'. BBC News. 8 May 2014. 16 September 2014. 16 September 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140916170543/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27321668. live.
  59. Web site: Koreas Trade Gunfire as Kim Jong-un Mystery Deepens. ABC News. Joohee Cho. October 10, 2014. June 28, 2020. May 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200506012000/https://abcnews.go.com/International/koreas-trade-gunfire-kim-jong-mystery-deepens/story?id=26097426. live.
  60. Web site: North and South Korea exchange gunfire at border in latest clash. news.yahoo.com. October 19, 2014 . 2015-11-09. 2014-11-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20141110100114/http://news.yahoo.com/north-south-korea-exchange-gunfire-border-latest-clash-114559658.html. live.
  61. News: North Korea soldier walks over DMZ and defects. 21 June 2015. BBC World News – Asia. 15 June 2015. 20 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150620192351/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33130382. live.
  62. News: South Korea Accuses the North After Land Mines Maim Two Soldiers in DMZ. Choe Sang-hun. The New York Times. 10 August 2015. 13 August 2015. 13 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150813125328/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/11/world/asia/north-korea-placed-mines-that-maimed-2-south-korean-soldiers-at-dmz-seoul-says.html?_r=0. live.
  63. Web site: 'Loyalty race' leads to land mine attack. Lee Sang Yong. Daily NK. 12 August 2015. 16 August 2015. 17 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150817135656/http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?num=13400&cataId=nk00100. live.
  64. News: Koreas switch off loudspeakers . BBC . 15 June 2004 . 25 August 2015 . 15 June 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20040615123223/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3807409.stm . live .
  65. News: North Korea and South Korea Trade Fire Across Border, Seoul Says . Choe Sang-Hun . . 20 August 2015 . 25 August 2015 . 17 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160117145801/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/21/world/asia/north-korea-and-south-korea-exchange-rocket-and-artillery-fire.html . live .
  66. News: North and South Korea exchange artillery fire. Ju-min Park and Tony Munroe. Reuters. 20 August 2015. 20 August 2015. 2 February 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160202150759/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southkorea-artillery-idUSKCN0QP0RO20150820. live.
  67. News: Koreas Agree on Deal to Defuse Tensions . Choe Sang-Hun . . 24 August 2015 . 25 August 2015 . 26 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150826233623/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/world/asia/south-korea-vows-not-to-back-down-in-military-standoff-with-north.html . live .
  68. Web site: South Korea fires warning shots on suspected North Korean drone . Sky News . 13 January 2016 . 14 January 2016 . 12 October 2017 . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171012061618/http://news.sky.com/story/seoul-fires-warning-shots-at-north-korea-drone-10128538 . live .
  69. News: North Korean Soldier Shot by Own Troops as He Defects to the South . . 13 November 2017 . 13 November 2017 . 13 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171113105303/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/world/asia/north-korea-defector-south.html . live .
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  71. Web site: North Korean Soldier Defects Through DMZ, and Gunfire Erupts . Mullany . Gerry . . 20 December 2017 . 4 January 2018 . 4 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192628/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/20/world/asia/north-korea-solider-defects-dmz.html . live .
  72. Web site: S. Korean citizen caught re-entering NK. 12 August 2018. 13 August 2018. 13 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180813222325/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180812000219. live.
  73. News: South Korean citizen repatriated from North Korea gets arrested for attempting to re-enter the state. The Straits Times. 12 August 2018. 13 August 2018. 14 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180814040147/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korean-citizen-repatriated-from-north-korea-gets-arrested-for-attempting-to-re. live.
  74. Web site: Soldier dies after being found with gunshot wound to head at border guard post. 16 November 2018. 17 November 2018. 17 November 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181117192727/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20181116007000315?section=national%2Fdefense. live.
  75. Web site: Yeo . Jun-suk . Army denies rumors about death of S. Korean soldier at DMZ . . 23 July 2019 . 18 November 2018 . 29 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190829012325/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20181118000237#cb . live .
  76. Web site: Multiple gunshots fired from N. Korea hit S. Korean DMZ guard post: JCS . . 3 May 2020 . 3 May 2020 . 3 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200503070613/https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200503002400325 . live .
  77. Web site: North Korea Accused of Shooting and Burning South Korean Defector . https://web.archive.org/web/20200924061534/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/24/world/asia/korea-defector-covid-19.html . dead . 24 September 2020 . . 24 September 2020 . 22 September 2020.
  78. Web site: Kim Jong-un apologises for killing of a South Korean official – South . . 26 September 2020 . 25 September 2020 . 26 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210626090259/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54291550 . live .
  79. Web site: Seoul says military fired at N. Korean drones after incursion. MSM. 26 December 2022. 27 December 2022. 26 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221226222233/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/seoul-says-military-fired-at-n-korean-drones-after-incursion/ar-AA15FDeT?ocid=entnewsntp&cvid=295828ab8c5343f69179282cb08c7d5e. live.
  80. News: Bae . Gawon . Lendon . Brad . Taylor . Jerome . Picheta . Rob . Bertrand . Natasha . Liptak . Kevin . Britzky . Haley . 2023-07-18 . US soldier believed to be detained by North Korea after crossing border . en . . 2023-07-18.
  81. News: Shin . Hyonhee . Stewart . Phil . 2023-07-18 . U.S. soldier crosses into North Korea, likely held in custody . en . . 2023-07-18.
  82. News: Shin . Hyonhee . 2024-06-11 . South Korea fired warning shots after North Korea border crossing. en . .
  83. Web site: https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-south-korea-border-tensions-warning-shots-2aa0eaef30dbc5801d5e787205b577a0.
  84. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/6/21/south-korea-fires-warning-shots-as-north-korean-soldiers-cross-border-again