[News Terms] The 21st Anniversary of the 'Yeonpyeong Naval Battle'

'The Battle of Yeonpyeong' collectively refers to the First Battle of Yeonpyeong, which took place on June 15, 1999, near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) off Yeonpyeong Island in the West Sea, and the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, which occurred on June 29, 2002, in the northwestern waters near the NLL off Yeonpyeong Island. The scale of the engagement and the number of casualties were greater in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, so June 29, the date of the second battle, is commemorated as Victory Day.

The First Battle of Yeonpyeong involved 20 North Korean fishing vessels harvesting blue crabs and four North Korean patrol boats that crossed the NLL to monitor them. The South Korean Navy responded with about ten Chamsuri-class patrol boats and fast attack craft, which physically rammed the North Korean vessels to push them back beyond the NLL, leading to an exchange of fire. Seven South Korean personnel, including Captain An Ji-young (then Captain) of the Chamsuri-class fast attack craft No. 325, were wounded by machine gun fire from the North Korean patrol boats, and the South Korean vessels sustained damage. On the other hand, the North Korean navy suffered heavy losses, with one torpedo boat and one patrol boat sunk, and three other patrol boats severely damaged and forced to retreat.

The sea wreath-laying ceremony held by the Navy 2nd Fleet Command on June 16 last year as a pre-event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Second Battle of Yeonpyeong was a retaliatory attack by North Korea for their defeat in the First Battle of Yeonpyeong. On the day of the incident, three years after the first battle, South Korean Chamsuri-class patrol boats No. 357 and No. 358 were dispatched on a maneuver operation to expel North Korean naval patrol boats that had crossed the NLL. The battle began when North Korean patrol boat Dansan-got No. 684 opened fire first with an 85mm tank gun. Six South Korean soldiers, including Captain Yoon Young-ha (then Captain) of Chamsuri No. 357 and Sergeant Han Sang-guk (then Staff Sergeant), were killed, and 18 were wounded. Sergeant Han, who was initially presumed missing, was found on the sunken No. 357 vessel with his hand tied to the steering wheel, a scene vividly depicted in the film 'The Battle of Yeonpyeong,' which deeply moved audiences.

The North Korean patrol boat Dansan-got No. 684 was so severely damaged that steering was impossible and was towed away by other North Korean patrol boats. Reportedly, North Korean casualties numbered 13 dead and 25 wounded, totaling 38.

On the 29th, the 21st anniversary ceremony commemorating the victory in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong was held at the Navy's 2nd Fleet Headquarters in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop stated in his commemorative speech, "The Second Battle of Yeonpyeong was a great victory in which the Republic of Korea Navy repelled North Korean provocations," adding, "The participating soldiers did not fear or retreat in the face of the enemy's surprise attack but responded immediately, perfectly defending the West Sea NLL."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.