Suspected North Korean Aircraft Detected Near Baengnyeongdo... 79 Vessels Temporarily Take Emergency Shelter

Coast Guard Implements Maritime Control After Military Sighting
Sheltering Order Lifted About Two Hours After Emergency Alert

An incident occurred near Baengnyeongdo, Incheon, the northernmost area of the West Sea, when a flying object, suspected to be a North Korean aircraft, was detected in the airspace nearby. As a result, more than 70 fishing vessels and leisure boats operating in the vicinity urgently took shelter in nearby ports.

According to the Korea Coast Guard, at around 9:46 a.m. on September 22, a text alert was sent to ships in the waters off Baengnyeongdo, Ongjin County, Incheon, stating, "A real situation has occurred at this moment; fishing vessels and leisure boats must enter the port." In response, a total of 79 vessels, including 50 fishing boats and 29 leisure boats that were operating at the time, immediately took shelter at seven nearby ports, including Yonggipo Port on Baengnyeongdo.

This action was taken following a request for cooperation from the military authorities to the Coast Guard after detecting the movement of a North Korean aircraft near Baengnyeongdo. Baengnyeongdo is the westernmost border area, only about 14 kilometers in a straight line from Jangsan Cape, Hwanghae Province, North Korea. The military and Coast Guard implement immediate maritime control and sheltering measures for vessels in case of airspace approach or security incidents to ensure the safety of ships.

Approximately two hours and ten minutes after the emergency alert was issued—at around 11:56 a.m.—the sheltering order was lifted following the military authorities’ announcement that the situation had ended. The Coast Guard sent a follow-up message approving ships to depart and resume operations. No casualties or accidents were reported during the sheltering process.

A Coast Guard official stated, "After being notified by the military authorities of the movement of a North Korean flying object, we implemented maritime control measures," adding, "Once the situation was cleared, we informed vessels so they could safely resume their operations."

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