The South Korean military reported that they fired warning shots at a North Korean merchant ship on Wednesday when it crossed the disputed maritime border off the country’s west coast, forcing the ship to flee.
The ship in question, which was not identified, was believed to have crossed into disputed waters because of a combination of bad weather and engine problems. It did, however, manage to flee back to North Korea.
Still, firing warning shots at a ship in distress at all probably isn’t idea for South Korea to have done, even if no further incidents came of it. South Korea’s military wants to strictly control the maritime border, but this was a decidedly unfriendly act.
North Korea has not responded so far, and as far as they are officially concerned, the ship was always in their waters, meaning the incident is almost certain to be condemned as a needless provocation by the south.
Firing on a sea going vessel that is under distress is morally wrong and perhaps criminal.
“A master of a ship at sea, which is in a position to be able to
provide assistance on receiving a signal from any source that persons
are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their
assistance.” South Korea should not be surprised that should one their vessels run into problems they will likely not receive any assistance from North Korea.