The Battle of Yeonpyeong, also known as the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong (South Korean: 제2연평해전; RR: Je I Yeonpyeong Haejeon), was a confrontation at sea between North Korean and South Korean patrol boats along a disputed maritime boundary near Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea in 2002. This followed a similar confrontation in 1999. Two North Korean patrol boats crossed the contested border and engaged two South Korean Chamsuri-class patrol boats. The North Koreans withdrew before South Korean reinforcements arrived.
This event sparked controversy in South Korea over the “blocking maneuver” in response to Northern Limit Line violations. Subsequently, the blocking maneuver was removed from the rules of engagement.
The Northern Limit Line is considered by South Korea to be the maritime boundary between itself and North Korea, while North Korea disagrees and states that the boundary is farther south. North Korean fishing vessels often wander into the area and are frequently chased away by South Korean patrol vessels. Occasionally a North Korean patrol tries to enforce its southern claim by traversing the limit line. In 2002 one such incursion turned into a naval battle along the limit line.
The specifications of the naval vessels of North and South Korea are as follows.
Chamsuri High-Speed Vessel 357
Specifications: Displacement 170 tons, Length 37m, Beam 6.7m, Draft 1.7m, Crew 32 (3 officers, 29 non-commissioned officers and crew), Maximum speed 37 knots, Cruising speed 7 knots, Range 600 nautical miles Armament: 1 × 40mm gun (bow), 2 × 20mm Vulcan guns (stern), 2 × M60 machine guns
SO-1 class PCF(Dongsan Got Patrol Boat 684)
Specifications: Displacement 207 tons, Length 42m, Beam 6.1m, Draft 1.9m, Crew 30–40 (details unknown), Maximum speed 28 knots, Cruising speed 13 knots, Range 1,100 nautical miles Armament: 1 × 45mm SM-21-ZIF autocannon (North Korea replaced it with an 85mm ZiS-S-53 tank gun), 2 × 25mm 2M-3M twin autocannons (North Korea replaced them with 37mm M1939 (61-K) autocannons), RBU-1200 400mm torpedo launcher
The timeline of events on June 29, 2002, is as follows:
06:30 Three squadrons of South Korean high-speed vessels (6 vessels) set sail to support fishing protection.
09:54 North Korean patrol boat Dongsan Got 388 (155 tons) begins crossing the NLL and heading south. South Korean Navy 253 high-speed vessel squadron conducts a response maneuver.
10:01 North Korean high-speed vessel Dongsan Got 684 (215 tons) additionally heads south. South Korean Navy 232 high-speed vessel squadron conducts a response maneuver.
10:25 North Korean Dongsan Got 684 opens fire with its 85mm naval gun at Chamsuri 357, which was conducting a blocking maneuver at a distance of 450m. South Korean 232 squadron returns fire. During this process, the bridge of Chamsuri 357 is destroyed, and Captain Yun Young-ha is killed.
10:26 Rear squadrons 253 and 256 high-speed vessels begin suppressive fire.
10:30 Squadron 256 begins its attack.
10:33 Squadron 253 begins its attack.
10:43 Jecheon (Pohang-class corvette) begins fire support.
10:47 Jinhae (Pohang-class corvette) begins fire support.