North Korean boat defection sparks debate about gaps in ROK maritime security



News North Korean boat defection sparks debate about gaps in ROK maritime security Reports claim fisherman made first contact with boat of four defectors, leading some to criticize slow military response Jeongmin Kim October 27, 2023 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON A North Korean fishing boat near Wonsan Port, North Korea, April 2017 \| Image: NK News The defection of several North Koreans in a wooden boat earlier this week has sparked a controversy over the South Korean military’s response, with ROK authorities denying claims that the incident in the East Sea exposed a security gap along the maritime border. According to South Korean media reports, a 60-year-old fisherman who was working off the east coast of Sokcho in Gangwon Province encountered the wooden boat carrying four North Koreans and reported it to the coastal security agency, before any official authorities arrived. The defection of several North Koreans in a wooden boat earlier this week has sparked a controversy over the South Korean military’s response, with ROK authorities denying claims that the incident in the East Sea exposed a security gap along the maritime border. According to South Korean media reports, a 60-year-old fisherman who was working off the east coast of Sokcho in Gangwon Province encountered the wooden boat carrying four North Koreans and reported it to the coastal security agency, before any official authorities arrived. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

News

North Korean boat defection sparks debate about gaps in ROK maritime security

Reports claim fisherman made first contact with boat of four defectors, leading some to criticize slow military response

Jeongmin Kim October 27, 2023

North Korean boat defection sparks debate about gaps in ROK maritime security

A North Korean fishing boat near Wonsan Port, North Korea, April 2017 | Image: NK News

The defection of several North Koreans in a wooden boat earlier this week has sparked a controversy over the South Korean military’s response, with ROK authorities denying claims that the incident in the East Sea exposed a security gap along the maritime border.

According to South Korean media reports, a 60-year-old fisherman who was working off the east coast of Sokcho in Gangwon Province encountered the wooden boat carrying four North Koreans and reported it to the coastal security agency, before any official authorities arrived.

Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks

Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis
Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period
The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop
Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns
Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting

Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts.

Subscribe now

All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time.

North Korean boat defection sparks debate about gaps in ROK maritime security

Try unlimited accessOnly $1 for four weeks

Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most –

as selected by <img width="226" height="50" class="logo" src="https://www.nknews.org/wp-content/themes/nknews/images/header-logo.png" alt="NK News Logo">

One more step!

Trending

Recent Stories

About the Author

Jeongmin Kim

Try unlimited access
Only $1 for four weeks

Start your day with
the North Korea stories that matter most –

as selected by