Seoul commemorates 24th anniversary of inter-Korean naval skirmish

South Korea held a ceremony on Monday to mark the 24th anniversary of its victorious naval skirmish against North Korea in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong in 2002.

The event marking the victory of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong took place at the Navy's Second Fleet in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, according to the Navy.

The naval battle occurred near the South's frontline island of Yeonpyeong on June 29, 2002, when two North Korean patrol boats crossed the Northern Limit Line, the de facto inter-Korean maritime border, and launched a surprise attack on the South's Chamsuri-357 warship.

It left six South Korean sailors dead and 19 others injured. Around 30 North Koreans were presumed to have been killed or wounded in the clash.

This year, the ceremony was attended by about 300 people, including Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul and the bereaved family members of the fallen soldiers.

The Navy said that the memorial event aimed to commemorate the patriotic spirit of those who sacrificed their lives to protect the country's maritime border against the North's provocations.

Yonhap