Disputed maritime boundary between S. Korea and the DPRK

The South Korean naval vessel sank in waters near the Northern Limit Line, which acts as the de facto maritime boundary between South Korea and the DPRK.

Pyongyang refuses to acknowledge the border, which was fixed by the US-led United Nations Command after the Korean War. Disputes between the DPRK and South Korean navies often occur in this area. Occasionally violence flares up along the line with deadly skirmishes occurring in 1999 and 2002. On November the 10th, 2009, naval vessels from the two sides exchanged fire, reportedly causing serious damage to a DPRK patrol ship and one death. In January this year, the DPRK fired about 30 artillery rounds not far from the same area as Friday's incident, with the South Korean side firing 100 warning shots in response.