The skirmish in the Yellow Sea – the first for seven years – left a North Korean patrol vessel "engulfed in flames" as it retreated back across the border under fire, according to the South Korean prime minister, Chung Un-Chan.
The clash came at a time when relations between the divided nations appeared to be thawing following increased tensions earlier this year caused by North Korea's decision to test a second nuclear device in defiance of UN sanctions.
South Korean analysts speculated that the apparent provocation by Pyongyang was an attempt to serve up a timely reminder of the volatility of the Korean Peninsular to Mr Obama who agreed on Monday to send an envoy to North Korea for direct talks.
Seoul said it had suffered no casualties from the exchange which took place after a South Korean patrol boat fired warning shots across the bow of the North Korean naval vessel that had crossed the disputed Northern Limit Line, 120 nautical miles west of Incheon. ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/southkorea/6536557/North-and-South-Korea-warships-exchange-fire.htmlHmmm, some more healing is needed in this corner of the world.