Asia 851
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: This dispute describes a series of minor incidents that took place within
the context of reunification talks between North and South Korea. At a meeting
between the countries on March 7, 1979, North Korea protested that an American
military aircraft exercise had begun in South Korea on March 1. In July, there was
an exchange of fire between naval forces, with the South Korean forces sinking a
North Korean armed boat disguised as a fishing vessel. On October 26, when the
South Korean president was assassinated, the United States issued a warning directed
at North Korea against taking advantage of the unstable transition in the South and
sent naval ships into South Korean seas. North Korea did not respond. On March 23,
1980, three armed North Korean agents were shot dead 12 miles outside of Seoul,
and two days later, South Korean forces sunk a North Korean spy boat, killing five
men. On March 27, two more North Koreans were killed in an exchange of fire that
took place within the demilitarized zone. North Korea cancelled reunification talks on
September 25. On December 6, the last member of a North Korean infiltrating team
at Namgae Island, 220 miles south of Seoul, was shot dead by South Korean police
on the island, while South Korean ships and planes sank a North Korean gunboat off
the same island.
MID#2194
Dispute Number: 2194
Date(s): July 4, 1981 to July 13, 1982
Participants: 731 North Korea/732 South Korea
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: This dispute describes one year of hostile interactions between North and
South Korea. The conflict began on July 4, 1981, when South Korean Counteres-
pionage Command announced that a North Korean agent had been killed attempting
to cross the Imjin-Gang River. In September their forces exchanged fire across the
demilitarized zone, but no casualties were reported. Similar exchanges also occurred
in November and December and then in April and June 1982. Finally, on July 13,
North Korea seized three fishing vessels—two South Korean and one Japanese—in
the Sea of Japan.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from July 7, 1981. Fatalities changed from
None.
MID#2195
Dispute Number: 2195
Date(s): January 31, 1983 to August 12, 1983
Participants: 2 United States of America, 732 South Korea/731 North Korea
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Tensions escalated between North and South Korea during the first half
of 1983 as both states engaged in border violations and attacks on shipping. The