North Korea Warns "South Will Never Overlook Our Territorial Waters Violation During Search Operations"

"South Side Search Operation, Another Ominous Warning"

On the morning of the 26th, the day after North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un officially apologized to our side regarding the incident in which a public official who went missing at sea near Soyeonpyeongdo in the West Sea was shot and killed by North Korea, crab fishermen were setting out by boat from the Dangseom dock on Yeonpyeongdo.

On the 27th, North Korea stated, regarding South Korea's search operation for the government official shot by North Korean forces in the West Sea, "We demand that the South immediately cease unauthorized incursions across the West Sea Military Demarcation Line that could provoke new tensions."

On the same day, through a report by the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea said, "We do not care if the South conducts any search operations in its own territorial waters," but added, "However, any intrusion into our territorial waters is absolutely unacceptable, and we sternly warn against it."

North Korea claimed, "We have organized searches throughout the southwestern sea and the entire western coast, and have even considered procedures and methods to hand over any bodies that may drift in on currents to the South, as per customary practice."

However, citing a notification from the North Korean Navy's West Sea Fleet, they asserted, "Since the 25th, numerous warships and other vessels from the South have been mobilized in actions presumed to be search operations, intruding into our waters."

They warned, "Such actions by the South provoke our rightful vigilance and foreshadow another unfortunate incident."

Furthermore, North Korea stated, "On the 25th, regarding the unfortunate incident that should not have occurred in the current inter-Korean relations situation, we investigated and notified the South of the full details of the incident."

They continued, "Following the will of the supreme leadership, we have reinforced necessary safety measures to ensure that the trust and respect between the North and South are never further damaged under any circumstances."