Movement of Suspected North Korean Aircraft Detected Near Baengnyeongdo... Over 70 Vessels Briefly Evacuated

▲ Korea Coast Guard vessel

The movement of a suspected North Korean aircraft was detected in the airspace near Baengnyeong Island, Incheon, the northernmost island in the West Sea, prompting over 70 fishing boats and other vessels to evacuate, it has been confirmed.

The Korea Coast Guard announced that it sent text messages instructing fishing boats and leisure boats to return to ports at 9:46 a.m. today (the 22nd), stating, "A real-world situation has occurred at this hour; fishing boats and leisure boats must enter ports."

Consequently, 79 vessels, including 50 fishing boats and 29 leisure boats that were operating, returned to seven ports including Yonggipo Port on Baengnyeong Island.

It was learned that the Coast Guard cooperated in maritime control after receiving a notification from military authorities, who had detected the movement of a flying object presumed to be a North Korean aircraft in the airspace near Baengnyeong Island at the time.

Military authorities stated that after capturing the aircraft, presumed to be a North Korean MiG, they scrambled South Korean fighter jets in preparation for a potential breach of the Northern Limit Line (NLL).

However, military authorities noted that the aircraft presumed to be a North Korean MiG turned back without violating the NLL.

An official from the Coast Guard stated, "At 11:56 a.m., 2 hours and 10 minutes after the evacuation text was sent, we lifted the situation and sent follow-up text messages stating that vessels were permitted to set sail again."

(Photo: Provided by Korea Coast Guard, Yonhap News)

※