The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) stressed that they remained "firmly committed" to the defense of the de facto maritime border with North Korea, following North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un's refusal to recognize the border, Yonhap reported.
The Northern Limit Line (NLL) separating the North Korean and South Korean waters in the Yellow Sea, is not officially recognized by Pyongyang, which prompted Kim to call for the "use of force" against South Korean vessels "violating" North Korean waters. According to North Korea, the demarcation line should be pushed further south.
"The NLL remains our military's unchanged maritime border. We will firmly respond to any provocations while maintaining firm readiness," Col. Lee Sung-jun of the JCS was quoted as saying by the news agency.
