Kim Jong Un's cryptic reference to new maritime border raises naval stakes



Analysis Kim Jong Un’s cryptic reference to new maritime border raises naval stakes Declaration that North Korean warships will patrol ‘middle demarcation lines’ could signal intent to challenge NLL Joon Ha Park April 29, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae at the new destroyer's launch at the Nampho bulk shipping port on April 25 \| Image: KCNA (April 26, 2025) At North Korea’s grand reveal of its largest warship to date last week, leader Kim Jong Un declared that the DPRK’s naval forces will now patrol not only coastal waters but also what he called “the waters of middle demarcation lines” with other countries. While state media has yet to define the terminology, it appears to represent a fresh challenge to the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border that has separated the two Koreas since the 1953 armistice, raising the risk of new tensions in historically contested waters. At North Korea’s grand reveal of its largest warship to date last week, leader Kim Jong Un declared that the DPRK’s naval forces will now patrol not only coastal waters but also what he called “the waters of middle demarcation lines” with other countries. While state media has yet to define the terminology, it appears to represent a fresh challenge to the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border that has separated the two Koreas since the 1953 armistice, raising the risk of new tensions in historically contested waters. 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

Analysis

Kim Jong Un’s cryptic reference to new maritime border raises naval stakes

Declaration that North Korean warships will patrol ‘middle demarcation lines’ could signal intent to challenge NLL

Joon Ha Park April 29, 2025

Kim Jong Un’s cryptic reference to new maritime border raises naval stakes

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter Kim Ju Ae at the new destroyer's launch at the Nampho bulk shipping port on April 25 | Image: KCNA (April 26, 2025)

At North Korea’s grand reveal of its largest warship to date last week, leader Kim Jong Un declared that the DPRK’s naval forces will now patrol not only coastal waters but also what he called “the waters of middle demarcation lines” with other countries.

While state media has yet to define the terminology, it appears to represent a fresh challenge to the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border that has separated the two Koreas since the 1953 armistice, raising the risk of new tensions in historically contested waters.

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Kim Jong Un’s cryptic reference to new maritime border raises naval stakes

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