-Caveat Lector- U.S. Ship Moves Into Korean Waters By PAUL SHIN .c The Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - A U.S. Navy ship sailed into South Korean waters today, two days after a deadly naval clash between the two Koreas in the Yellow Sea. The USS Vincennes left its base in Yokosuka, Japan, on Wednesday and was to be joined Friday by another guided-missile cruiser, the USS Mobile Bay. The two ships, carrying a total of 760 crew members, were dispatched to ``contribute to peace in the region'' and will stay in the area until tensions are reduced, said Lt. Jeff Davis, a U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman. Two U.S. nuclear-powered submarines - the USS Kamehameha and USS Buffalo - also arrived at South Korea's main naval base of Chinhae late Wednesday, but Davis said it was a routine port call not related to the clash. A small number of additional U.S. EA-6B electronic warfare jets were also added to existing air patrols, Defense Department spokesman Capt. Mike Doubleday said in Washington. But tensions appeared to be easing along the disputed Yellow Sea border off the Korean peninsula's western coast, as North Korean ships stayed away for the second straight day. The disputed zone is a rich crab fishing ground claimed by both Koreas as their territorial waters. An armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War never outlined the maritime border. Five North Korean fishing boats were spotted operating on their side of the border early today, but the ships were not moving south, South Korea's Defense Ministry said. ``There have been no further provocative North Korean moves,'' ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Cha Young-koo said. Tension that began to build 10 days ago exploded Tuesday when warships of both Koreas exchanged fire. One North Korean gunboat sank and several others were heavily damaged. About 30 sailors from the North were believed to have died, a U.S. defense official said in Washington, speaking on condition of anonymity. Seven South Korean soldiers were wounded, none seriously, when two of their ships were raked by North Korean fire. Tuesday's confrontation clouded the prospect of a meeting between the two Koreas, set for Monday in Beijing. The meeting would be the first government contact between the two rivals in 14 months. The Beijing meeting was called to discuss aid to the famine-hit communist country and the reunion of millions of separated family members in the divided Korean peninsula. The U.N. Command unilaterally demarcated the sea frontier in 1953 and created a buffer zone to avoid clashes. But since the late 1970s, North Korea has been sending fishing boats and naval ships into the zone 20 to 30 times a year. But when challenged by South Korean patrol boats, they usually withdraw quickly. The peninsula was divided into communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea in 1945. Their border is the world's most heavily armed, with nearly 2 million troops on both sides. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
