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S. Korean forces trade fire with infiltrators
September 20, 1996
Web posted at: 9:35 a.m. EDT (1335 GMT)In this story
September 20, 1996
Web posted at: 11:00 p.m. EDT (0300 GMT)SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- South Korean security forces exchanged gunfire with one or two North Korean infiltrators Saturday as the manhunt for the intruders entered a fourth day.
The clash took place on a hillside near the east coast city of Canning where authorities believe up to seven North Korean agents may be holed up. The area is near the beach where a submarine carrying the North Koreans was spotted early Wednesday grounded on a reef.
Thousands of soldiers and police, using helicopters and sniffer dogs, have been combing the area following the discovery of the submarine. So far, 18 infiltrators have been shot and killed, and one has been captured alive.
'Spy' mission
On Sunday, the submarine landed five spies on a mission to gather information about South Korean naval and air bases in the region, the officials quoted the captive as saying. They said he told them the submarine waited two days to pick them up and was on its way home when it broke down.
Overnight Thursday and into Friday, troops traded gunfire with North Koreans in at least three places, according to government-owned Yonhap TV. In one clash, an agent fled after hurling a grenade at his pursuers, Yonhap said. The Defense Ministry would not confirm the reports.
'Guerrilla war'
As his government announced it would brief the U.N. Security Council, President Kim Young-sam said the time has come for South Korea to break its silence at the United Nations and protest what he described as increasing military adventurism by North Korea.
South Korea's intelligence agency director, Kwon Yong-hae, told parliament that the infiltration was designed "to start a guerrilla war."
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher urged "all parties" to avoid further provocative action. Japan denounced the incident as "deplorable."
Political analysts said the incident may have damaged the chances of peace on the Korean peninsula by giving ammunition to hard-liners in Seoul, who oppose any concessions to the North.
North Korea has not commented on the incident. Thursday, it refused to receive a protest letter from the U.N. Command that oversees the Koreas' fragile cease-fire. The two Koreas never signed a peace treaty after the 1950-53 Korean War, and their border remains the most heavily guarded in the world.
Seoul Bureau Chief Sohn Jie-Ae, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- 7 more North Koreans shot dead in South - September 19, 1996
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