S. Korea deploys more weapons to border regions to deter N. Korea

The South Korean military said Monday it has deployed additional weapons to islands near the tense western maritime border to better deal with North Korea's growing threats.

   The disputed sea border remains a powder keg with the two Koreas fighting bloody battles there in 1999, 2002 and 2009. In the latest incident, both sides briefly exchanged fire last week as a boat from the North violated the Northern Limit Line.

   Drawn by the U.S.-led United Nations Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, the NLL acts as the de facto sea border between the two Koreas, but Pyongyang does not recognize the border.

   "To strengthen preparedness against the North's surprise attacks on and occupation of border islands in the Yellow Sea, (the military) has additionally dispatched Chiron Man missiles and armored vehicles in the regions," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a report, citing the country's portable surface-to-air missiles.

   "The military devised a timetable on how to respond to North Korea's possible provocations after the reassessment of its recent military buildup and attack patterns," the JCS said, without elaborating further.

   The report was presented to the parliamentary defense committee for the regular audit of the JCS.

   To deter possible North Korea's provocations in case of South Korean civic groups' anti-Pyongyang campaign, the Seoul military "has maintained a tight readiness posture and equipped its front-line units with 155-millimeter self-propelled artillery to replace 105mm towed ones," the JCS noted.

   With a goal to deter North Korea's provocations "in a preemptive and proactive fashion and to ensure victory at an early stage," the military has stepped up surveillance "in a closer cooperation with the United States," it added.

   In regard to the recent clash between naval forces from the two Koreas near Yeonpyeong Island, Seoul military conceded that automatic cannons on its latest Gumdoksuri class large patrol boat jammed causing the vessel to be pulled out of the fray.

   JCS chairman Adm. Choi Yun-hee said following the rules of engagement, the commander of the patrol boat engaged the North Korean vessel with the aim of hitting it, after firing shots across the intruder's bow. He however, said the vessel's 76 millimeter and 40 mm guns jammed, causing smaller boats nearby to fire at the North Korean boat that shot back with 37 mm cannons.

   He said the Navy could not confirm what damage was inflicted on the North Korean vessel that triggered the exchange of fire last Tuesday.

   The admission drew criticism that the military did not properly report on the engagement and may have tried to hide the fact of the gun jamming.

   The admission comes after a series of shoot-outs along the inter-Korean land and sea borders put bilateral relations at a crossroads.

   Earlier this month, high-level officials from the two held talks in South Korea's western port city of Incheon, where they agreed to hold another meeting before early November at the latest, but Pyongyang hinted at calling it off, citing cross-border tensions. (Yonhap)